'Every strategy needs to be contributing to erasing the stigma': Maori and Pacific young people talk about overcoming barriers to testing for sexually transmitted infections.

BACKGROUND: Maori and Pacific young people are disproportionately impacted by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Access to STI screening is important to reduce transmission and reproductive health complications. METHODS: Between November 2022 and May 2023, we held four wananga (workshops) with Maori and Pacific participants (15-24years old) to find out what barriers they encounter to STI testing, and hear their ideas about how to overcome these. Participants were recruited via youth-focused community organisations in the Wellington region of Aotearoa New Zealand. Inductive thematic analysis was used to understand data generated from discussions, drawing on Maori and Pacific models of wellbeing to frame themes. RESULTS: Thirty-eight participants were involved in the wananga. Barriers to STI testing related to five themes: (1) differences in cultural values and expression; (2) family/friends; (3) educational gaps; (4) psychological factors; and (5) structural obstacles. Suggested strategies to improve access to sexual health care included the need for free, flexible services, education and health promotion activities to reach young people in their spaces (e.g. church, marae, social media). Participants stressed the need for approaches to be community-based, delivered by trusted individuals using culturally appropriate messages, and saw participation in STI testing as beneficial for whanau/family and communities. CONCLUSIONS: To improve access to STI testing, participants described the need for free services, together with education and health promotion to improve inter-generational sexual health knowledge. Reframing messages around STIs to align with Maori and Pacific models of wellbeing was identified as a way to normalise conversations, in turn reducing the stigma surrounding STI testing.

"It was a very awkward consultation because I didn't know"-general practice staff experiences and challenges in providing healthcare to gender and sexual minority youth in Aotearoa New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Rainbow young people (RYP; people of diverse genders, sexualities, and variations in sex characteristics) face barriers accessing primary care, often report negative experiences and the need to educate clinicians on rainbow-specific issues. This study explores general practice staff views and experiences of providing care to RYP. METHODS: Three focus groups were held with staff from 5 general practices in an urban area of Aotearoa New Zealand (25 participants in total). Practices were purposively selected to include some known to be more "rainbow-friendly" seeing larger numbers of RYP and some with no particular focus on RYP. All members of each practice were invited to participate, including administration and reception staff. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed in NVivo using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: (i) Practice experience, (ii) Feeling awkward, (iii) Knowledge and training, and (iv) Structural barriers. Differences were apparent in health provider knowledge, comfort, and experience in providing care to RYP. Participants identified a lack of knowledge and training and wanted more resources and education. Systems limitations were common (e.g. with IT systems for recording gender) and often contributed to awkward clinical encounters. CONCLUSIONS: Participants recognized shortcomings in their training, knowledge, and level of confidence providing care to RYP and expressed a desire to improve their competency. Further work is needed to identify and trial practical strategies that help improve communication skills, knowledge, and the delivery of more equitable healthcare to RYP.

Young people talk about primary care and telehealth: A survey of 15- to 25-year olds in the Wellington region of New Zealand.

Young people are known to face challenges when accessing healthcare and generally have low rates of health service utilisation. Use of telehealth might be one way to improve access, but evidence is needed from young people as to how acceptable it is. This online survey of 15- to 25-year olds in the greater Wellington region of New Zealand sought young people's views on telehealth (phone and videocalls) as a means of accessing primary care. The survey included both forced-choice questions and free-text options. We report here on the free-text data from open-ended questions that were qualitatively analysed using template analysis. A total of 346 participants took part between August 6 and September 21, 2021, of whom 60% were female, 12% Maori (indigenous) ethnicity, and 38% had used telehealth methods of consulting previously. Analysis was undertaken of the free-text comments that were provided by 132 participants (38%). Although those contributing comments described both benefits and drawbacks to using telehealth, more drawbacks were cited, with specific examples given to illustrate a range of concerns and potential limitations of telehealth including privacy, communication difficulties and compromised quality of care. Participants thought telehealth could be used successfully in specific situations, for example by people concerned about leaving the house due to anxiety, illness or being immunocompromised and for simple consultations or when the person knows exactly what they need. Respondents expressed a strong desire to be offered the choice between in-person and telehealth consultations. Providing young people with a choice of consultation mode together with clear information about all aspects of a telehealth consultation is important if clinicians want young people to engage with this method of primary care service delivery.

Experience of Sexual Healthcare by Maori and Non-Maori Young People: An Online Survey of 15-24 Year Olds in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Objectives: To understand young people's expectations of, and experience with sexual healthcare in New Zealand. Methods: Online survey of 15-24 year olds in a region with high socioeconomic deprivation, with selected outcomes compared for Maori and Europeans. Results: Of 500 respondents, 60% had received sexual healthcare (74.3% in general practice) and 81% were happy with care received. Fewer Maori and people not in education, employment, or training reported positive experiences of sexual healthcare on arrival and in the consultation. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for equitable delivery of youth-friendly, culturally safe, sexual and reproductive healthcare in general practice settings.

'Be nice to us, we're still learning': an online survey of young people in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, about unmet need for sexual health care and improving access to services.

Background Young people need equitable access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care to enjoy good sexual health. Methods This online survey of people aged 15-24years in a defined region of New Zealand asked about unmet need for sexual health care and sought views on improving access to sexual health care. Results Fivehundred participants took part in the study between August and October 2020, of whom 60% were female, 25% were of Maori (indigenous) ethnicity, and 21.4% were gender and/or sexuality diverse. Sixty percent had ever received sexual health care (300/500), and 74.3% received it from a general practice clinic (223/300). Overall, 41% (204/500) reported they needed, but had not received sexual health care in the past ('unmet need'). Reasons for unmet need included being shy, embarrassed or ashamed (74.5%, 152/204), fear of judgment by clinic staff (42.6%, 87/204), cost (32.8%, 67/204), concerns about confidentiality (28.9%, 59/204), and not knowing where to go (24%, 49/204). Maori participants were more likely to report not knowing where to go (32.1% vs 20%, P=0.04). Participants identified the need to reduce stigma, normalise sexual health care, improve convenience, affordability and awareness of services as key to improving access. Reassurance about confidentiality and being treated with kindness, empathy and respect were deemed critical to service acceptability. Conclusions Action is urgently needed at policy, funding and practice levels to improve access to services by: reducing societal stigma, normalising discussions around sexual health, improving affordability and raising awareness of services. Quality improvement is also needed in general practice to ensure young people can routinely access youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health care.

Access to sexual healthcare during New Zealand's COVID-19 lockdown: cross-sectional online survey of 15-24-year-olds in a high deprivation region.

BACKGROUND: New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved a nationwide stay-at-home lockdown in March-April 2020 that restricted access to primary healthcare services. METHODS: An online survey of 15-24-year-olds in a high deprivation region of New Zealand asked about the need for, and receipt of, sexual healthcare during lockdown. Experience of telehealth and preferences for future receipt of sexual healthcare were also explored. Social media advertising was used to recruit participants over five weeks in August and October 2020. RESULTS: The survey sample included 500 respondents comprising 58.8% females, 25.4% Maori (indigenous) ethnicity and 21.4% LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex +) young people. During lockdown, 22.2% of respondents reported sexual health needs (111/500), but fewer than half this group got help (45%, 50/111), believing their issue could wait, or due to barriers contacting services and lack of information about service availability. Experience of telehealth consultations (by 28/50 participants) was mostly favourable though only 46% agreed it was easier than going to the clinic. Telehealth methods were the preferred option by some participants for future receipt of sexual healthcare; but for most scenarios suggested, respondents favoured in-person clinic visits. CONCLUSIONS: Young people experienced unmet need for sexual healthcare during lockdown in New Zealand, but not because services were unavailable. Findings point to the need for targeted information dissemination to young people about available services and the importance of seeking help during lockdown. More research is needed to understand the advantages and disadvantages of sexual healthcare delivered via telehealth to inform future service provision.

What does palliative care look like in a New Zealand aged residential care facility when patients are admitted to die?

AIMS: New Zealanders dying in public hospitals or hospices are increasingly being discharged and admitted-to-die in aged residential care (ARC) facilities as hospitals and hospices struggle to meet demand. This study sought to investigate how care is delivered to patients admitted-to-die in an ARC facility. METHODS: A mixed-methods case study including a clinical notes review of seven patients who died in one ARC facility within three months of admission and a focus group with ARC facility staff and visiting professionals from other organisations. RESULTS: The clinical notes review showed a high burden of palliative care symptoms that constituted specialist palliative care, provided by ARC staff plus professionals from other organisations. Focus group data showed those involved were willing, but expressed significant concern about lack of structure and funding. CONCLUSIONS: As our increasing and aging population reaches end-of-life, New Zealand hospitals/hospices will not be able to provide ongoing specialist palliative care and admission-to-die in ARC facilities may be a viable alternative. However, ARC facilities are not set up or staffed to provide specialist palliative care of those admitted-to-die. A specific model of care that is funded appropriately is required.

Exploring interprofessional, interagency multimorbidity care: case study based observational research.

BACKGROUND: The increase in multimorbidity or co-occurring chronic illnesses is a leading healthcare concern. Patients with multimorbidity require ongoing care from many different professionals and agencies, and often report a lack of integrated care. OBJECTIVE: To explore the daily help-seeking behaviours of patients with multimorbidity, including which health professionals they seek help from, how professionals work together, and perceptions and characteristics of effective interprofessional, interagency multimorbidity care. DESIGN: Using a case study observational research design, multiple data sources were assembled for four patients with multimorbidity, identified by two general practitioners in New Zealand. In this paper, two case studies are presented, including the recorded instances of contact and communication between patients and professionals, and between professionals. Professional interactions were categorized as consultation, coordination, or collaboration. RESULTS: The two case studies illustrated two female patients with likely similar educational levels, but with different profiles of multimorbidity, social circumstances, and personal capabilities, involving various professionals and agencies. Engagement between professionals showed varying levels of interaction and a lack of clarity about leadership or care coordination. The majority of interactions were one-to-one consultations and rarely involved coordination and collaboration. Patients were rarely included in communications between professionals. CONCLUSION: Cases constructed from multiple data sources illustrate the complexity of day-to-day, interprofessional, interagency multimorbidity care. While consultation is the most frequent mode of professional interaction, targeted coordinated and collaborative interactions (including the patient) are highly effective activities. Greater attention should be given to developing and facilitating these interactions and determining who should lead them.

Case Study Observational Research: A Framework for Conducting Case Study Research Where Observation Data Are the Focus.

Case study research is a comprehensive method that incorporates multiple sources of data to provide detailed accounts of complex research phenomena in real-life contexts. However, current models of case study research do not particularly distinguish the unique contribution observation data can make. Observation methods have the potential to reach beyond other methods that rely largely or solely on self-report. This article describes the distinctive characteristics of case study observational research, a modified form of Yin's 2014 model of case study research the authors used in a study exploring interprofessional collaboration in primary care. In this approach, observation data are positioned as the central component of the research design. Case study observational research offers a promising approach for researchers in a wide range of health care settings seeking more complete understandings of complex topics, where contextual influences are of primary concern. Future research is needed to refine and evaluate the approach.

Interprofessional undergraduate students talk about nurses and nursing: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the discourse amongst a range of health professional students, including nursing, talking about nurses and nursing. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study which employed the use of focus groups. SETTINGS: A rural and residential interprofessional immersion programme in a rural location in New Zealand. The participants were final year undergraduates drawn from seven different degrees (dentistry, dietetics, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy and physiotherapy). METHODS: Data were collected from separate and sequential group interviews; each of which comprised a different mix of students and always included nursing students. Each student participated once. Data were analysed by comparing datum with datum until recurrent themes emerged. RESULTS: The discourse in relation to nurses and nursing identified two overarching themes 'constrained conversations' and 'the benefit of IPE: what nursing might become'. Within those themes there were four contributing sub themes; 'nursing as doing', 'limiting our vocabulary', 'becoming part of the conversation 'and 'moving from the present to the future what nursing might become'. CONCLUSIONS: The interprofessional experience for student nurses not only enabled them to learn about other professions but was a forum in which they were able to articulate the role of the nurse. This was an unintended and positive by-product of the IPE programme.