Adapting an equity-focused implementation process framework with a focus on ethnic health inequities in the Aotearoa New Zealand context.

BACKGROUND: Health intervention implementation in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), as in many countries globally, usually varies by ethnicity. Maori (the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa) and Pacific peoples are less likely to receive interventions than other ethnic groups, despite experiencing persistent health inequities. This study aimed to develop an equity-focused implementation framework, appropriate for the Aotearoa NZ context, to support the planning and delivery of equitable implementation pathways for health interventions, with the intention of achieving equitable outcomes for Maori, as well as people originating from the Pacific Islands. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature to identify existing equity-focused implementation theories, models and frameworks was undertaken. One of these, the Equity-based framework for Implementation Research (EquIR), was selected for adaptation. The adaptation process was undertaken in collaboration with the project's Maori and consumer advisory groups and informed by the expertise of local health equity researchers and stakeholders, as well as the international implementation science literature. RESULTS: The adapted framework's foundation is the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the written agreement between Maori rangatira (chiefs) and the British Crown), and its focus is whanau (extended family)-centred implementation that meets the health and wellbeing aspirations, priorities and needs of whanau. The implementation pathway comprises four main steps: implementation planning, pathway design, monitoring, and outcomes and evaluation, all with an equity focus. The pathway is underpinned by the core constructs of equitable implementation in Aotearoa NZ: collaborative design, anti-racism, Maori and priority population expertise, cultural safety and values-based. Additionally, the contextual factors impacting implementation, i.e. the social, economic, commercial and political determinants of health, are included. CONCLUSIONS: The framework presented in this study is the first equity-focused process-type implementation framework to be adapted for the Aotearoa NZ context. This framework is intended to support and facilitate equity-focused implementation research and health intervention implementation by mainstream health services.

Smoking data quality of primary care practices in comparison with smoking data from the New Zealand Maori and Pacific abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Quality smoking data is crucial for assessing smoking-related health risk and eligibility for interventions related to that risk. Smoking information collected in primary care practices (PCPs) is a major data source; however, little is known about the PCP smoking data quality. This project compared PCP smoking data to that collected in the Maori and Pacific Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme. METHODS: A two stage review was conducted. In Stage 1, data quality was assessed by comparing the PCP smoking data recorded close to AAA screening episodes with the data collected from participants at the AAA screening session. Inter-rater reliability was analysed using Cohen's kappa scores. In Stage 2, an audit of longitudinal smoking status was conducted, of a subset of participants potentially misclassified in Stage 1. Data were compared in three groups: current smoker (smoke at least monthly), ex-smoker (stopped > 1 month ago) and never smoker (smoked < 100 cigarettes in lifetime). RESULTS: Of the 1841 people who underwent AAA screening, 1716 (93%) had PCP smoking information. Stage 1 PCP smoking data showed 82% concordance with the AAA data (adjusted kappa 0.76). Fewer current or ex-smokers were recorded in PCP data. In the Stage 2 analysis of discordant and missing data (N = 313), 212 were enrolled in the 29 participating PCPs, and of these 13% were deceased and 41% had changed PCP. Of the 93 participants still enrolled in the participating PCPs, smoking status had been updated for 43%. Data on quantity, duration, or quit date of smoking were largely missing in PCP records. The AAA data of ex-smokers who were classified as never smokers in the Stage 2 PCP data (N = 27) showed a median smoking cessation duration of 32 years (range 0-50 years), with 85% (N = 23) having quit more than 15 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: PCP smoking data quality compared with the AAA data is consistent with international findings. PCP data captured fewer current and ex-smokers, suggesting ongoing improvement is important. Intervention programmes based on smoking status should consider complementary mechanisms to ensure eligible individuals are not missed from programme invitation.

The Prevalence and Management of Atrial Fibrillation in New Zealand Maori Detected through an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Program.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening was incorporated into an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening (AAA) program for New Zealand (NZ) Maori. METHODS: AF screening was performed as an adjunct to AAA screening of Maori men aged 60-74 years and women aged 65-74 years registered with primary health care practices in Auckland, NZ. Pre-existing AF was determined through coded diagnoses or medications in the participant's primary care record. Subsequent audit of the record assessed accuracy of pre-screening coding, medication use and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Among 1,933 people successfully screened, the prevalence of AF was 144 (7.4%), of which 46 (2.4% of the cohort) were patients without AF coded in the medical record. More than half of these were revealed to be known AF but that was not coded. Thus, the true prevalence of newly detected AF was 1.1% (n=21). An additional 48 (2.5%) of the cohort had been coded as AF but were not in AF at the time of screening. Among the 19 at-risk screen-detected people with AF, 10 started appropriate anticoagulation therapy within 6 months. Of the nine patients who did not commence anticoagulation therapy, five had a subsequent adverse clinical outcome in the follow-up period, including one with ischaemic stroke; two had contraindications to anticoagulants. Among those with previously diagnosed AF, the proportion receiving anticoagulation therapy rose from 57% pre-screening to 83% at 6 months post-screening (p<0.0001); among newly diagnosed AF the proportion rose from 0% to 53% (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: AF screening is a feasible low-cost adjunct to AAA screening with potential to reduce ethnic inequities in stroke incidence. However, effective measures are needed to ensure that high-risk newly diagnosed AF is managed according to best practice guidelines.

Receipt of mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy following breast conserving surgery (BCS) in New Zealand women with BCS-eligible breast cancer, 2010-2015: an observational study focusing on ethnic differences.

BACKGROUND: Women with early breast cancer who meet guideline-based criteria should be offered breast conserving surgery (BCS) with adjuvant radiotherapy as an alternative to mastectomy. New Zealand (NZ) has documented ethnic disparities in screening access and in breast cancer treatment pathways. This study aimed to determine whether, among BCS-eligible women, rates of receipt of mastectomy or radiotherapy differed by ethnicity and other factors. METHODS: The study assessed management of women with early breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] and invasive stages I-IIIA) registered between 2010 and 2015, extracted from the recently consolidated New Zealand Breast Cancer Registry (now Te Rehita Mate Utaetae NZBCF National Breast Cancer Register). Specific criteria were applied to determine women eligible for BCS. Uni- and multivariable analyses were undertaken to examine differences by demographic and clinicopathological factors with a primary focus on ethnicity (Maori, Pacific, Asian, and Other; the latter is defined as NZ European, Other European, and Middle Eastern Latin American and African). RESULTS: Overall 22.2% of 5520 BCS-eligible women were treated with mastectomy, and 91.1% of 3807 women who undertook BCS received adjuvant radiotherapy (93.5% for invasive cancer, and 78.3% for DCIS). Asian ethnicity was associated with a higher mastectomy rate in the invasive cancer group (OR 2.18; 95%CI 1.72-2.75), compared to Other ethnicity, along with older age, symptomatic diagnosis, advanced stage, larger tumour, HER2-positive, and hormone receptor-negative groups. Pacific ethnicity was associated with a lower adjuvant radiotherapy rate, compared to Other ethnicity, in both invasive and DCIS groups, along with older age, symptomatic diagnosis, and lower grade tumour in the invasive group. Both mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy rates decreased over time. For those who did not receive radiotherapy, non-referral by a clinician was the most common documented reason (8%), followed by patient decline after being referred (5%). CONCLUSION: Rates of radiotherapy use are high by international standards. Further research is required to understand differences by ethnicity in both rates of mastectomy and lower rates of radiotherapy after BCS for Pacific women, and the reasons for non-referral by clinicians.

Human papillomavirus self-testing among unscreened and under-screened Maori, Pasifika and Asian women in Aotearoa New Zealand: A preference survey among responders and interviews with clinical-trial nonresponders.

INTRODUCTION: Maori, Pasifika and Asian women are less likely to attend cervical screening and Maori and Pasifika women are more likely to be diagnosed with later-stage cervical cancer than other women in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study-with under-screened women taking part in a randomized-controlled trial comparing self-testing and standard screening-explored the acceptability of a human papillomavirus (HPV) self-test kit and the preferred method for receiving it. METHODS: Maori, Pasifika and Asian women (N= 376) completed a cross-sectional postal questionnaire. Twenty-six women who had not accepted the trial invitation were interviewed to understand their reasons for nonparticipation. RESULTS: Most women found the self-test kit easy and convenient to use and reported that they did not find it painful, uncomfortable or embarrassing. This was reflected in the preference for a self-test over a future smear test on the same grounds. Most women preferred to receive the kit by mail and take the test themselves, rather than having it done by a doctor or nurse. There was a range of preferences relating to how to return the kit. Phone calls with nonresponders revealed that, although most had received the test kit, the reasons for not choosing to be involved included not wanting to, being too busy or forgetting. CONCLUSION: HPV self-testing was acceptable for Maori, Pasifika and Asian women in Aotearoa New Zealand. HPV self-testing has considerable potential to reduce the inequities in the current screening programme and should be made available with appropriate delivery options as soon as possible. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This study explored the acceptability of HPV self-testing and their preferences for engaging with it among Maori, Pasifika and Asian women. Thus, women from these underserved communities were the participants and focus of this study.

Achieving cervical cancer elimination among Indigenous women.

Achieving the World Health Organisation (WHO) cervical cancer elimination target of fewer than four new cases per 100,000 woman-years requires scaling up HPV vaccination of girls, cervical screening, and pre-cancer and cancer treatment. We reviewed data from four high-income colonised countries (Australia, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), and the United States (US)) to identify how each is currently performing compared to the cervical cancer incidence elimination and triple-intervention targets, nationally and in Indigenous women. We also summarise barriers and enablers to meeting targets for Indigenous women. To achieve elimination, cervical cancer incidence must be reduced by 74% in Indigenous women in Australia, and 63% in Maori women in NZ; data were not published in sufficient detail to compare incidence in Indigenous women in Canada or the US to the WHO target. Only Australia meets the vaccination coverage target, but uptake appears comparatively equitable within Australia, NZ and the US, whereas there appears to be a substantial gap in Canada. Screening coverage is lower for Indigenous women in all four countries though the differential varies by country. Currently, only Australia universally offers HPV-based screening. Data on pre-cancer and cancer treatment were limited in all countries. Large inequities in cervical cancer currently exist for Indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US, and elimination is not on track for all women in these countries. Current data gaps hinder improvements. These countries must urgently address their systemic failure to care and provide health care for Indigenous women.

Lung cancer screening in Australia and New Zealand: the evidence and the challenge.

Lung cancer remains the commonest cause of cancer death in Australia and New Zealand. Targeted screening of individuals at highest risk of lung cancer aims to detect early stage disease, which may be amenable to potentially curative treatment. While current policy recommendations in Australia and New Zealand have acknowledged the efficacy of lung cancer screening in clinical trials, there has been no implementation of national programmes. With the recent release of findings from large international trials, the evidence and experience in lung cancer screening has broadened. This article discusses the latest evidence and implications for Australia and New Zealand.

Correction to: Comparison of two invitation-based methods for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling with usual care among un- and under-screened Maori, Pacific and Asian women: study protocol for a randomised controlled community trial to examine the effect of self-sampling on participation in cervical-cancer screening.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in the authorship list associated with the paper. Georgina McPherson has therefore been added.

Comparison of two invitation-based methods for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling with usual care among un- and under-screened Maori, Pacific and Asian women: study protocol for a randomised controlled community trial to examine the effect of self-sampling on participation in cervical-cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Maori, Pacific and Asian women in New Zealand have lower cervical-cancer screening rates than European women, and there are persistent inequities in cervical cancer outcomes for Maori and Pacific women. Innovative ways to address access barriers are required. New Zealand is transitioning to screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing, which could allow women themselves, rather than a clinician, to take the sample. Internationally, self-sampling has been found to increase screening participation rates. The aim of this open-label community-based randomised controlled trial is to investigate whether self-sampling increases screening participation among un- and under-screened Maori, Pacific and Asian women in New Zealand. METHODS/DESIGN: We aim to invite at least 3550 un- or under-screened (≥5 years overdue) Maori, Pacific and Asian women (1050, 1250, 1250 respectively), aged 30-69 years, for screening. The three study arms are: usual care in which women are invited to attend a clinic for a standard clinician-collected cytology test; clinic-based self-sampling in which women are invited to take a self-sample at their usual general practice; and mail-out self-sampling in which women are mailed a kit and invited to take a self-sample at home. Women will be randomised 3:3:1 to the clinic and mail-out self-sampling groups, and usual care. There is also a nested sub-study in which non-responding women in all allocation groups, when they subsequently present to the clinic for other reasons, are offered clinic or home-kit self-sampling. The primary outcome will be the proportion of women who participate (by taking a self-sample or cytology test). DISCUSSION: This trial is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of mailed self-sampling in New Zealand and will be one of the first internationally to evaluate the effectiveness of opportunistic in-clinic invitations for self-sampling. The trial will provide robust evidence on the impact on participation proportions from different invitation approaches for HPV self-sampling in New Zealand un- and under-screened Maori, Pacific and Asian women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ANZCTR Identifier: ACTRN12618000367246 (date registered 12/3/2018) https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=371741&isReview=true; UTN: U1111-1189-0531.

Variation in public-funded bariatric surgery intervention rate by New Zealand region.

Inequitable access to bariatric surgery by geographical region has been reported internationally, but comparable data on provision of bariatric surgery have not previously been reported in New Zealand. We examined allocated funding and provision of bariatric surgery amongst different regions in New Zealand in the 2013/14 year, and found that there was large variation in both. This highlights that public funded bariatric surgery needs to take into account population prevalence of morbid obesity to reduce inequities by geographical region.

A targeted promotional DVD fails to improve Maori and Pacific participation rates in the New Zealand bowel screening pilot: results from a pseudo-randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: New Zealand's Bowel Screening Pilot (BSP) used a mailed invitation to return a faecal immunochemical test. As a pilot it offered opportunities to test interventions for reducing ethnic inequities in colorectal cancer screening prior to nationwide programme introduction. Small media interventions (e.g. educational material and DVDs) have been used at both community and participant level to improve uptake. We tested whether a DVD originally produced to raise community awareness among the Maori population would have a positive impact on participation and reduce the proportion of incorrectly performed tests (spoiled kits) if mailed out with the usual reminder letter. METHODS: The study was a parallel groups pseudo-randomised controlled trial. Over 12 months, all Maori and Pacific ethnicity non-responders four weeks after being mailed the test kit were allocated on alternate weeks to be sent, or not, the DVD intervention with the usual reminder letter. The objective was to determine changes in participation and spoiled kit rates in each ethnic group, determined three months from the date the reminder letter was sent. Participants and those recording the outcomes (receipt of a spoiled or non-spoiled test kit) were blinded to group assignment. RESULTS: 2333 Maori and 2938 Pacific people participated (11 withdrew). Those who were sent the DVD (1029 Maori and 1359 Pacific) were less likely to participate in screening than those who were not (1304 Maori and 1579 Pacific). Screening participation was reduced by 12.3% (95% CI 9.1-15.5%) in Maori (13.6% versus 25.9%) and 8.3% (95% CI 5.8-10.8%) in Pacific (10.1% versus 18.4%). However, spoiled kit rates (first return) were significantly higher among those not sent the DVD (33.1% versus 12.4% in Maori and 42.1% versus 21.9% in Pacific). CONCLUSION: The DVD sent with the reminder letter to BSP non-responders reduced screening participation to an extent that more than offset the lower rate of spoiled kits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612001259831 . Registered 30 November 2013.

Engaging Maori in biobanking and genomic research: a model for biobanks to guide culturally informed governance, operational, and community engagement activities.

PURPOSE: He Tangata Kei Tua, a relationship model for biobanks, was developed to facilitate best practice in addressing Maori ethical concerns by guiding culturally informed policy and practice for biobanks in relation to governance, operational, and community engagement activities. METHODS: The model is based on key issues of relevance to Maori that were identified as part of the Health Research Council of New Zealand-funded research project, Te Mata Ira (2012-2015). RESULTS: This project identified Maori perspectives on biobanking and genetic research, and along with tikanga Maori it developed cultural guidelines for ethical biobanking and genetic research involving biospecimens. The model draws on a foundation of matauranga (Indigenous knowledge) and tikanga Maori (Maori protocols and practices) and will be useful for biobanks, researchers, ethics committee members, and those who engage in consultation or advice about biobanking in local, regional, national, or international settings. CONCLUSION: This article describes the model and considers the policy and practice implications for biobanks seeking to address Maori ethical concerns. Although the model has focused on Maori aspirations in the New Zealand context, it provides a framework for considering cultural values in relation to other community or indigenous contexts.Genet Med 19 3, 345-351.

Provider engagement and choice in the Lead Maternity Carer System: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: New Zealand (NZ) has a unique choice-based model of maternity care. AIMS: To examine how engagement in antenatal care and choice of Lead Maternity Care provider (LMC) vary with maternal demographics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our sample consisted of 6822 women enrolled during 2009 and 2010 into a longitudinal cohort study Growing Up in New Zealand. We asked if women had engaged a LMC, the type of LMC and whether they had a choice of LMC. Associations with maternal ethnicity, age, parity and education and household deprivation were determined. RESULTS: Ninety-eight per cent of women had engaged a LMC provider. Twelve per cent reported not experiencing choice and 11% not receiving their first choice of LMC provider. The reported LMC provider type was independent midwife (66%), hospital midwife (15%), private obstetrician (8%), shared midwife and general practitioner (GP) (5%) and GP-only care (<1%). LMC provider type and choice varied with maternal demographics. Women not engaging a LMC were more likely to be non-European, <20 years or >40 years old, with poorer educational attainment, or living in more deprived households. Women not experiencing choice of provider were more likely to be non-European, <20 years old, or living in more deprived households. CONCLUSIONS: The current unequal distribution of provider engagement and choice in NZ has relevance for a number of specific maternity policies, including policies seeking to improve engagement in antenatal care. The study findings have international relevance as an example of the impact of choice policies on equity.

Early engagement with a Lead Maternity Carer: results from Growing Up in New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Timely engagement in antenatal care improves maternal and child health outcomes and is an important element of healthcare performance measurement. AIMS: To describe the timeliness of lead maternity carer (LMC) engagement and identify the factors associated with timely engagement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study enrolled a diverse sample of pregnant women during 2009 and 2010. Timely engagement was defined as before ten weeks gestation. Independent associations of LMC type; maternal ethnicity, age, parity and education, and household deprivation with timely engagement were described using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Of the 6822 women enrolled, 6661 (98%) stated they had a LMC. Of these 6661, 6012 (90%) reported the time taken to engage a LMC. Eighty-six to 92% of women engaged a LMC in a timely manner depending upon the estimate of gestational time used. Factors independently associated with delayed engagement were Maori (odds ratio (OR) = 0.59, 95% CI 0.44-0.80), Pacific (0.63, 0.46-0.86) or Asian (0.51, 0.39-0.67) ethnicity; first pregnancy (0.71, 0.58-0.88); age <20 years (0.62, 0.41-0.94); socio-economic deprivation (0.69, 0.52-0.92); and LMC type being a hospital midwife (0.47, 0.38-0.60), or a combination of care providers (0.60, 0.42-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Timeliness of LMC engagement in NZ is poorer for non-European women, younger women, women in their first pregnancy, and women living in more socioeconomically deprived areas. Improving the timeliness of LMC engagement for these groups of women has the potential to reduce inequalities in maternal and child health outcomes.

Perspectives of potentially eligible Indigenous Maori on a lung cancer screening programme: a qualitative study.

AIMS: Lung cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer, globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand, where it disproportionately affects Maori. We aimed to understand Maori perspectives on lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand to guide its equity-focussed implementation, including identifying enablers and barriers. METHODS: We took a Kaupapa Maori based co-design approach to inform future screening, recruiting Maori current/ex-smokers and members of their whanau (family) for three focus group phases held in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand in August 2019. Participants responded to a proposed lung cancer screening pathway and shared their attitudes and beliefs about lung cancer and screening. Results were thematically analysed. RESULTS: The 21 Maori participants supported future lung cancer screening in Aotearoa New Zealand. Perceived benefits included being more informed about lung cancer and screening and enabling healthier future generations. Barriers to screening were previous negative health service experiences; fear; stigma; and access, including time, cost and transport. Enablers included providers' cultural competence; clear communication; a one-stop shop; and support with transport. A range of factors could potentially influence a decision to participate in screening. CONCLUSIONS: Participants favoured future lung cancer screening and identified key barriers and facilitators of screening.

A scoping review of equity-focused implementation theories, models and frameworks in healthcare and their application in addressing ethnicity-related health inequities.

BACKGROUND: Inequities in implementation contribute to the unequal benefit of health interventions between groups of people with differing levels of advantage in society. Implementation science theories, models and frameworks (TMFs) provide a theoretical basis for understanding the multi-level factors that influence implementation outcomes and are used to guide implementation processes. This study aimed to identify and analyse TMFs that have an equity focus or have been used to implement interventions in populations who experience ethnicity or 'race'-related health inequities. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted to identify the relevant literature published from January 2011 to April 2022 by searching electronic databases (MEDLINE and CINAHL), the Dissemination and Implementation model database, hand-searching key journals and searching the reference lists and citations of studies that met the inclusion criteria. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles were screened independently by at least two researchers. Data were extracted from studies meeting the inclusion criteria, including the study characteristics, TMF description and operationalisation. TMFs were categorised as determinant frameworks, classic theories, implementation theories, process models and evaluation frameworks according to their overarching aim and described with respect to how equity and system-level factors influencing implementation were incorporated. RESULTS: Database searches yielded 610 results, 70 of which were eligible for full-text review, and 18 met the inclusion criteria. A further eight publications were identified from additional sources. In total, 26 papers describing 15 TMFs and their operationalisation were included. Categorisation resulted in four determinant frameworks, one implementation theory, six process models and three evaluation frameworks. One framework included elements of determinant, process and evaluation TMFs and was therefore classified as a 'hybrid' framework. TMFs varied in their equity and systems focus. Twelve TMFs had an equity focus and three were established TMFs applied in an equity context. All TMFs at least partially considered systems-level factors, with five fully considering macro-, meso- and micro-level influences on equity and implementation. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review identifies and summarises the implementation science TMFs available to support equity-focused implementation. This review may be used as a resource to guide TMF selection and illustrate how TMFs have been utilised in equity-focused implementation activities.

Retrospective survey of colposcopy experience for wahine Maori across two time periods (2016 and 2021) in Waitemata and Auckland districts, New Zealand.

AIMS: To examine wahine Maori experiences of colposcopy services in New Zealand based on surveys conducted in 2016 and 2021. METHODS: The surveys included a total of 201 wahine Maori who had attended one of the three colposcopy clinics in the Waitemata and Auckland districts. Participants were retrospectively surveyed about their experience via telephone using a pre-tested questionnaire. Pre-defined responses were analysed quantitatively, and narrative comments were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Response rates were 27.6% in 2016 and 34.2% in 2021. Prior to their appointment, most women reported receiving the information leaflet and a reminder. At the clinic visit, overall interaction with staff, comfort, listening and explanation of the procedure all scored highly, with maintenance or improvements from 2016 to 2021. Wahine reported feeling culturally safe. Areas for improvement included content of information, access to Maori community liaison, appointment waiting time and delivery of colposcopy results. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that wahine Maori had overall excellent experiences of colposcopy services, maintained over a five-year period with some suggested improvements to context of information and communication. This provides reassurance for wahine Maori in the diagnostic and treatment part of the cervical screening pathway ahead of the upcoming change to HPV primary screening.

Supporting implementation of interventions to address ethnicity-related health inequities: frameworks, facilitators and barriers - a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Health inequities are differences in health between groups of people that are avoidable, unfair and unjust. Achieving equitable health outcomes requires approaches that recognise and account for the differences in levels of advantage between groups. Implementation science, which studies how to translate evidence-based interventions into routine practice, is increasingly recognised as an approach to address health inequities by identifying factors and processes that enable equitable implementation of interventions. This article describes the protocol for a scoping review of the literature relating to the equitable implementation of interventions, focusing on ethnicity-related health inequities. The scoping review aims to identify equity-focused implementation science theories, models and frameworks (TMFs) and to synthesise and analyse the evidence relating to the factors that aid or inhibit equitable implementation of health interventions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The scoping review is guided by the methodology developed by Arksey and O'Malley and enhanced by Levac and colleagues. Relevant literature will be identified by searching electronic databases, grey literature, hand-searching key journals and searching the reference lists and citations of studies that meet the inclusion criteria. We will focus on literature published from 2011 to the present. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles will be screened independently by two researchers; any disagreements will be resolved through discussion with another researcher. Extracted data will be summarised and analysed to address the scoping review aims. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The scoping review will map the available literature on equity-focused implementation science TMFs and the facilitators and barriers to equitable implementation of interventions. Ethical approval is not required. Dissemination of the results of the review will include publications in peer-review journals and conference and stakeholder presentations. Findings from the review will support those implementing interventions to ensure that the implementation pathway and processes are equitable, thereby improving health outcomes and reducing existing inequities.

Invitation methods for Indigenous New Zealand Maori in lung cancer screening: Protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial.

Lung cancer screening can significantly reduce mortality from lung cancer. Further evidence about how to optimize lung cancer screening for specific populations, including Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ)'s Indigenous Maori (who experience disproportionately higher rates of lung cancer), is needed to ensure it is equitable. This community-based, pragmatic cluster randomized trial aims to determine whether a lung cancer screening invitation from a patient's primary care physician, compared to from a centralized screening service, will optimize screening uptake for Maori. Participating primary care practices (clinics) in Auckland, Aotearoa NZ will be randomized to either the primary care-led or centralized service for delivery of the screening invitation. Clinic patients who meet the following criteria will be eligible: Maori; aged 55-74 years; enrolled in participating clinics in the region; ever-smokers; and have at least a 2% risk of developing lung cancer within six years (determined using the PLCOM2012 risk prediction model). Eligible patients who respond positively to the invitation will undertake shared decision-making with a nurse about undergoing a low dose CT scan (LDCT) and an assessment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The primary outcomes are: 1) the proportion of eligible population who complete a risk assessment and 2) the proportion of people eligible for a CT scan who complete the CT scan. Secondary outcomes include evaluating the contextual factors needed to inform the screening process, such as including assessment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We will also use the RE-AIM framework to evaluate specific implementation factors. This study is a world-first, Indigenous-led lung cancer screening trial for Maori participants. The study will provide policy-relevant information on a key policy parameter, invitation method. In addition, the trial includes a nested analysis of COPD in the screened Indigenous population, and it provides baseline (T0 screen round) data using RE-AIM implementation outcomes.

A service evaluation to explore Maori experiences of direct-acting antiviral hepatitis C treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand.

AIMS: Hepatitis C, and its associated life-limiting sequalae, disproportionately affect Maori. Despite availability of fully funded effective and well-tolerated oral direct-acting anti-viral agents (DAA), many in New Zealand remain untreated. This service evaluation aimed to explore the experiences of Maori who have received DAA treatment for hepatitis C, and their ideas for service improvement. METHODS: This qualitative service evaluation recruited eligible participants (Maori, 18 years+, DAA treatment since February 2019) through health care providers. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken over the telephone with consenting participants. General inductive analysis was used to generate themes contextualising findings within cultural contexts for Maori, as aligned with Maori methodological research practices. RESULTS: Twelve participants were interviewed. The physical and mental impact hepatitis C can have, and that treatment with DAA leads to improvement in these domains, were highlighted. Proactivity by health professionals was valued, including the benefit of wrap-around services to keep people connected throughout the treatment journey, with participants articulating the ability to self-advocate when needs were not met by other services. CONCLUSION: Findings can be used to enhance the development of further hepatitis C treatment services, based on Maori experiences of treatment and self-identified solutions for improvement in hepatitis C care.