Te Oranga O Te Roro: kaumatua perspectives on the development of a mobile app for mate wareware (dementia) awareness.

AIM: Mate wareware (dementia) presents a significant social and economic burden for Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand. Previous literature has highlighted the need to improve health literacy for Maori regarding the causes and management of mate wareware, yet there is a lack of Maori-centred educational resources. It was determined that a mobile phone application (app) could meet this need and that early consultation with Maori was required to ensure the digital solution would be culturally safe and relevant. METHOD: This study explored the perspectives of kaumatua (Maori elders) regarding how to cater the mate wareware mobile app to Maori. Through a qualitative approach based on Kaupapa Maori principles, two focus groups were held with 15 kaumatua. Focus group data were thematically analysed. RESULTS: The analysis identified four themes related to the content of the proposed app and its design features. "Information about mate wareware" and "Caregiver support" were prominent themes that kaumatua prioritised for inclusion in the proposed app. To ensure uptake, kaumatua emphasised that the "Access" and "Appeal" of the proposed app should be considered. CONCLUSION: The findings have informed the design of the Mate Wareware app and should be considered when developing other digital health interventions for Maori.

Impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on self-reported mood and self-rated health of community-dwelling adults with chronic illness.

AIM: To determine whether self-reported mood or self-rated health were affected in community-dwelling adults with chronic illness following COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: This was a repeated cross-sectional study using secondary data. We included New Zealanders aged 40+ who underwent International Residential Instrument (interRAI) assessments in the year prior to COVID-19 lockdown (25 March 2019-24 March 2020) or in the year following COVID-19 lockdown (25 March 2020-24 March 2021). Pairwise comparisons were made between each pre-lockdown quarter and its respective post-lockdown quarter to account for seasonality patterns. Data from 45,553 (pre-lockdown) and 45,349 (post-lockdown) assessments were analysed. Outcomes (self-reported mood, self-rated health) were stratified by socio-demographic variables. RESULTS: Self-reported mood improved in the first quarter post-lockdown among those aged 80+, as well as among women, people of European ethnicity, those living alone and those living in more deprived areas. Self-rated health improved in these same groups, as well as among those aged 65-79, and among men. No differences in self-reported mood or self-rated health were found in the second, third, or fourth quarters post-lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported mood and self-rated health of community-dwelling adults with chronic illness were not negatively affected following COVID-19 lockdown, and temporarily improved among some sub-groups. However, the longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic need to be closely monitored.