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This paper synthesises critique from Māori patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and their whānau to identify barriers and propose changes to improve the structure and function of the New Zealand mental health system. A qualitative Kaupapa Māori Research methodology was used. Twenty-four semi-structured interviews were completed with Māori patients with BD and members of their whānau. Structural, descriptive and pattern coding was completed using an adapted cultural competence framework to organise and analyse the data. Three key themes identified the impact of structural features of the New Zealand mental health system on health equity for Māori with BD. Themes involved the accessibility, delivery and scope of the current health system, and described how structural features influenced the quality, utility and availability of BD services for Māori patients and whānau. Structural barriers in the existing design, and potential changes to improve the accessibility, delivery and scope of BD services for Māori, were proposed including a redesign of operational, environmental, staffing, and navigation points (information, transition, fatigue) to better meet the needs of Māori with BD. A commitment to equity when implementing structural change is needed, including ongoing evaluation and refinement. This paper provides specific recommendations that should be considered in health service redesign to ensure the New Zealand mental health system meets the needs of Māori patients with BD and their whānau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Investigated the experiences of Māori (the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, New Zealand) patients and whānau (extended family network) engaging with acute hospital inpatient services and their priorities for a Māori-centred model of relational care. Design: A qualitative Māori-centred research design using a Thought Space Wānanga (learning through in-depth group discussion, deliberation and consideration) approach. Methods: Two wānanga were conducted between May 2022 and June 2022, with 13 Māori patients who had been acutely hospitalized within the past 12 months and their whānau members. The first wānanga utilized storytelling and journey mapping to collect data. The second wānanga refined the initial themes. Wānanga were audiorecorded and then inductively coded and developed into themes. Results: Thirteen patients and whānau attended the first wānanga, while 10 patients and whānau participated in the second wānanga). Four themes were developed: (1) Whakawhanaungatanga (establishing connections and relationships), (2) Whakamana (uplifting the status and esteem of Māori), (3) Whakawhitiwhiti kōrero (the importance of communicating, discussing and deliberating) and (4) Kotahitanga (working together with purpose) all provide insights into the importance of effectively engaging and connecting with Māori patients and whānau when acutely hospitalized. Conclusions: The experiences and priorities of Māori patients and whānau affirm the international literature, suggesting that Indigenous relational concepts are critical to building relationships, connections and trust. Despite existing healthcare models for working with Indigenous peoples, their poor application contributes to sub-optimal healthcare experiences at all points of their healthcare journey. A relational mode of practice focused on engagement and forming connections better meets the needs of Indigenous peoples engaging with inpatient health services. Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Despite the existence of Indigenous models of care, Indigenous peoples consistently report a lack of engagement and connection when accessing inpatient health services. Without establishing relationships, applying models of care is challenging. Impact (Addressing): • What problem did the study address? Internationally, healthcare systems are consistently ill-equipped to deliver culturally safe care for Indigenous and marginalized peoples, evident in ongoing health inequities. Like other reports of Indigenous experiences of health services, Māori express dissatisfaction with care delivery in an acute inpatient setting. This study investigated Māori patients and whānau experiences engaging with acute hospital inpatient services and their priorities for a Māori-centred model of relational care. • What were the main findings? Māori patients and whānau recounted negative experiences with healthcare professionals lacking effective relationships and trust. Satisfaction occurred when engagement with health care professionals resembled Indigenous cultural rituals of encounter that considered their holistic, collective and dynamic worldviews. Previous models of relational care, while helpful, are not Indigenous and so do not address their needs, such as engagement as a mode of practice (how) to achieve this. • Where and on whom will the research have an impact? This research impacts Indigenous peoples' health outcomes, particularly Māori, and nurses and clinicians working and interacting within acute inpatient and other hospital settings. Indigenous research methods support co-constructing knowledge for translation into practical outcomes through transformational practices, policies and theory development. Reporting method: We used the Consolidated Criteria for Strengthening the Reporting of Health Research Involving Indigenous Peoples (CONSIDER) statement (see File S2—CONSIDER Checklist) and the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines (see File S3—COREQ Checklist). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vocational rehabilitation (VR) involves complex skills, and often inter-disciplinary teams need to work effectively to meet the needs of stakeholders. Research highlights important influences on effective teamwork, including funding systems, team structure, policies and procedures, and effects of professional hierarchies. This qualitative study aimed to explore these issues in-depth including how factors interact to produce problems and solutions. We focused on identifying challenges and opportunities for VR teams working in the Aotearoa-New Zealand context which may also be transferrable to other settings. Methods: Qualitative descriptive instrumental case study involving focus groups and interviews with two VR teams (n = 14). Teams worked in musculoskeletal injury and were geographically diverse. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Analysis constructed three overarching themes: Having the Power, Being Human, and VR is Not for Everyone. Achieving trusting relationships within the team was paramount. This was achieved through seeing everyone as equal, and as human. Equality within the team was particularly important for professionals that occupied different positions of power in a wider professional hierarchy. VR specialist skills (experience and postgraduate qualifications) were often under-recognised, leading them to have little power in VR decision making processes. VR professionals also experienced competing demands between client needs and business drivers. Conclusion: Findings offer detail of processes teams engage in to create effective team relationships and manage systemic factors to facilitate positive outcomes. Additionally, findings highlight opportunities in decision-making processes for VR medical certification that may increase job satisfaction and better utilize skills and expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Prediabetes is the asymptomatic precursor to type two diabetes mellitus, a significant and growing public health problem in New Zealand (NZ). Little is known about how general practitioners (GPs) and nurses view prediabetes care, and similarly little is known about how people with prediabetes view their condition and care. Aim. This study aimed to investigate the views of NZ GPs and nurses, and people with prediabetes about prediabetes and its management. Methods. This was a mixed qualitative methods study that is part of a randomised control trial of a prediabetes intervention. Results. Three key themes emerged from the health professional data (GPs and nurses) and another three themes emerged from people with prediabetes data. GPs and nurses were uncertain about the progression of prediabetes; they felt prediabetes was not a priority and they were unsure about what to advise. People with prediabetes were uncertain about the diagnosis and information given to them; they were unsure about what to do about prediabetes and they found lifestyle change hard. Discussion. GPs, nurses and people with prediabetes, expressed much uncertainty, but also some certainty about prediabetes. All were certain that prediabetes is common and increasing and that sustained lifestyle change was very difficult. But uncertainty prevailed about whether, in reality, prediabetes could be stopped, who would be most likely to benefit from lifestyle interventions and how best to achieve these. Older Māori and Pacific women were keen to promote lifestyle change and this appeared best done through Māori and Pacific peoples' organisations by means of co-designed interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the views and opinions of nonconsumer researchers to the concept of an Expert Consumer Researcher Group. Design and Methods: Qualitative exploratory involving individual interviews with nonconsumer mental health researchers experienced in working collaboratively with consumer researchers. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings: Participants viewed the concept positively, albeit with caution. Perceived advantages included: greater visibility and enhanced access; collegiality; sharing and creating expertise; broader acceptance; making it mandatory; and structure and location. Participants were concerned about potential tokenism and implementation barriers. Practice Implications: Consumer involvement enhances the quality and relevance of research, potentially impacting clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Adaptive equipment (AE) is frequently provided during stroke rehabilitation by occupational therapists. Purpose. This study aimed to identify the AE that people typically use after a stroke and the outcomes achieved as a result, and to explore people's experiences obtaining and using AE, to inform both practice and policy in this field. Method. A mixed-methods study, involving a postal questionnaire and interviews, used descriptive statistics and grounded theory to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Findings. Questionnaire data (n = 258) revealed mobility AE was issued most frequently, with increased safety as the primary reported outcome. Interview data (n = 15) indicated relationships with health professionals and the hospital environment shaped early AE selection and use. Once home, making sense of AE and community participation were more influential. Implications. Therapeutic relationships and reflection time are critical to maximize AE use after stroke. Policy and related funding for AE need to prioritize community participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisational culture has been shown to impact on resident outcomes in residential aged care ( RAC). This is particularly important given the growing number of residents with high palliative care needs. The study described herein (conducted from January 2013 to March 2014) examined survey results from a convenience sample of 46 managers, alongside interviews with a purposively selected sample of 23 bereaved family members in order to explore the perceptions of organisational culture within New Zealand RAC facilities in one large urban District Health Board. Results of the Organisational Culture Assessment Instrument ( OCAI) completed by managers indicated a preference for a 'Clan' and the structured 'Hierarchy' culture. Bereaved family interviews emphasised both positive and negative aspects of communication, leadership and teamwork, and relationship with residents. Study results from both managers' OCAI survey scores and next of kin interviews indicate that while the RAC facilities are culturally oriented towards providing quality care for residents, they may face barriers to adopting organisational processes supportive of this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reduction of the availability of tobacco has been proposed as a means of reducing and denormalising tobacco use. Some retailers have stopped selling tobacco. Therefore, we investigated how willing New Zealand convenience store owners were to stop selling tobacco or sell nicotine replacement therapy. Promotion of their stores was offered as an incentive to stop selling tobacco. Methods We asked convenience store owners in the Auckland metropolitan region of New Zealand to choose one of three actions. The first was to stop selling tobacco for a short period of time; the second was to restrict the hours that they sold tobacco; the third was to display and sell nicotine replacement therapy. All participating retailers completed a short interview about selling tobacco. We also surveyed customers about nicotine replacement and cessation. Results One-third of eligible retailers agreed to participate. Most who participated (93%) were unwilling to stop or restrict tobacco sales and 2 (7%) had already stopped selling tobacco. Tobacco was perceived as a key product for their businesses. Very few customers who purchased cigarettes noticed nicotine replacement therapy or obtained it from convenience stores. Conclusions Substantially reducing the availability of tobacco in communities is likely to require legislative approaches, underpinned by sustained community pressure and support for convenience store owners who are willing to change their business model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]