Manaaki Mamao—To Care From a Distance: Evaluating a Telehealth Service for Māori and Pacific Peoples With Hypertension

Abstract

Life expectancy is 6.6 and 6.1 years shorter for Māori and Pacific peoples, respectively, compared to the non-Māori/non-Pacific population of Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the largest avoidable contributor to this health gap.

Hypertension (raised blood pressure [BP]) is a major CVD risk factor, with higher BP exponentially increasing risk for coronary heart disease and stroke. Conversely, effective BP management reduces this risk dramatically. In Aotearoa, hypertension is managed in primary care, but over a quarter of New Zealanders have unmet primary healthcare needs due to long waits or cost. Māori and Pacific peoples are more likely to have a hypertension diagnosis and also face greater barriers to primary healthcare access. Accessible CVD risk-management programmes for these groups are therefore essential, with research showing that respectful, reciprocal communication and relationships are critical to culturally safe cardiac care.

Telemonitoring services utilise clinician-led education and interactive digital interventions to enhance hypertension management through improved monitoring and health literacy.6 Manaaki Mamao is a 6-month telehealth-based programme delivered by Hato Hone St John that aims to reduce health inequities for Māori and Pacific peoples by taking a culturally safe, people led and technology enabled approach to hypertension management. It supports home-based hypertension monitoring and management with flexibility to meet individuals’ needs. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient outcomes and engagement with Manaaki Mamao over the first 2 years of the programme.