Routinely collected health data has been successfully used to describe ‘the problem’ of persisting inequalities and to inform potential solutions. Increasing attention is now being paid to the utility of data and to its relevance. Using a Kaupapa Māori approach, this three-year study is exploring how routinely collected Māori specific health data, gathered at the DHB level and reported by the Ministry of Health, can be optimally used by Māori leaders, DHB leaders and other decision-makers to stimulate improvements in health outcomes for Māori. Three case study DHBs have taken part in the research which has been conducted over three phases: an examination of current data utilisation practices; understanding facilitators and barriers to using data in health services planning; and, in the translation phase, communicating successful strategies to the wider sector. The study aims to highlight the processes, resources, skills and time needed to transform DHB level data into decisions and actions that improve hauora Māori.
The study began late in 2017 and was expected to conclude in mid-2020. However, unavoidable delays, resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic, have meant that the translation phase of the research has been extended to February 2021. In the opening phase of the study, our DHB study partners each identified child health data as an important area of investigation with immunisation data and oral health data both being a focus. In the following phase, conducted during 2018-2019, we worked with our DHB study partners to further clarify the facilitators and barriers to the use of Māori child health data in health services planning in the context of each of the case studies. All data collection and analysis across the participating sites was carried out with results fed back in various ways including hui with Tumu Whakarae (National Reference Group of Māori Health Strategy Managers within DHBs), an oral presentation at the 11th International Health Services Research and Policy Conference in Auckland in December 2019, an oral presentation at the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge Kōrero Tahi Symposium and preliminary feedback to our site partners.
The translation phase, which continued in 2020, has included workshopping study results with DHB partners in sensemaking processes and exploring how the research results may be implemented in practice. The study has successfully highlighted the processes, resources, skills, and time needed to transform DHB level data into decisions and actions that improve hauora Māori. Several recommendations have been developed to strengthen decision-making that, if implemented, would stimulate improvements in health outcomes for Māori. Among these are greater involvement of Māori in data interpretation, problem identification, and decision-making regarding health service changes; ensuring that closing of equity gaps becomes business as usual for DHBs, built into systems and not one off interventions reliant on individual champions and the need for greater recognition of mātauranga and Māori skills and knowledge as key to solutions for improving Māori health gain. Planning for the further communication of successful strategies to the wider sector has also been undertaken.
The first of a planned series of peer-reviewed journal papers was published mid-year (Gifford, Boulton, Cvitanovic, Neuwelt & Tenbensel. (2020). Making health data work for Māori: attitudes and current challenges. Policy Quarterly, 16 [2]), with a second currently under review and a third in the final stages of preparation for submission.
