Health providers’ experiences of health technologies within Te Tai Tokerau, Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT An understanding of the perspectives of Māori healthcare providers to the emergence of new health technologies is essential for developing technologies that respond to patient need. In Aotearoa New Zealand, inequities in health outcomes fall unevenly on Māori, who experience worse health outcomes than other New Zealanders. This includes access to technologies that might mitigate some of the worst health outcomes. While health technology is a broad field, this study aims to explore the experiences of health technologies of predominantly Māori health providers across the region of Te Tai Tokerau, a region characterised by its high Māori population. Eight healthcare professionals participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Three themes were generated: 1. empowering whānau with greater control over their own health outcomes; 2. community networks will play a key role in the delivery of technologies and 3. challenges to the uptake of technologies. Health providers have the willingness to trial new technologies, motivated by the potential of new technologies to empower whānau in the care and treatment of illness. However, understanding the patient perspective of how they wish to receive care remains an imperative if health disparities are to be addressed.