How and why was the pilot initiated?

The Check-Up Self-Report pilot project concept was initiated in 2022 by Dr Brigette Meehan, interRAI Fellow, who was the Principal Advisor for interRAI New Zealand at the time. An opportunity was seen to advance efforts to achieve equitable health outcomes for Māori and to achieve pae ora for all New Zealanders.

The specific aim of the pilot project is to facilitate access for kaumātua and kuia to health services at the right time, and ahead of a health crisis. The pilot will trial the usefulness of the interRAI Check-Up Self-Report to improve health outcomes for kaumātua and kuia in the Lakes area (previously known as the Lakes District Health Board). Usefulness will be defined by the needs of each stakeholder in the trial.

Why is this new?

This is the first interRAI assessment tool to be piloted in New Zealand where the person completes the assessment themselves with the guidance, if necessary, of non-clinical personnel. There is an opportunity to reach a wider cohort of people, perhaps not well known to health services and reduce referral times for those in need. This tool could positively influence the health journey for people in primary health services.

Where are we up to?

The project received ethics approval in December 2023 and is registered with the ANZ Clinical Trials registry. We have Dr Joanna Hikaka, Senior Research Fellow, Te Kupenga Hauora Māori Co-Director, Centre for Co-Created Ageing Research, University of Auckland, conducting the research for the pilot project, as well as the participation of Korowai Aroha, a Kaupapa Māori provider in Rotorua.

interRAI New Zealand have provided assessment education to two of their paeārahi, equipping them with the necessary skills for supporting kaumātua who will be completing the assessment. The paeārahi have also learnt about managing the subsequent follow-up processes to address the identified needs of participants, ensuring the implementation of appropriate care plans with clinical support. Close collaboration is ongoing with the Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) team from Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand - Lakes.

Our target is to complete 50 assessments by the end of March 2024, with the overall goal of concluding the pilot project and reporting on its findings by the end of June 2024. We are extremely excited and proud of this pilot project and look forward to the outcome and research findings.