19 Apr Māori and Pacific health app trialled

A healthy lifestyle app developed for Māori and Pasifika people is being trialled and could be rolled out nationally next year.

Ol@-Or@ is a mobile app and website co-designed by Toi Tangata, the Fono Health & Social Services, South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services and staff at three New Zealand universities.

It aims to help individuals, whānau and communities to become healthier and reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

The National Institute for Health Innovation is facilitating the project. NIHI project manager Jacqui Grey says co-design of the Ol@-Or@ tool was hugely important and end users and communities were involved from the very start of the project.

Feedback revealed that it was important for the app to have a holistic view of health, including not just physical but mental, social, spiritual and family health.

Users can add friends and family, upload a profile photo, join exercise and community groups, set health goals and track life and health progress.

It also incorporates user-generated content, allowing the community to upload content like activities, healthy recipes and exercise groups.

The Fono community research coordinator Emily Hughes says the culturally tailored environment built into the tool is hugely beneficial.

“I think that’s part of the reason why some nutrition programmes don’t work very well – the advice that they’re giving doesn’t take into account different cultures and what that means. They aren’t developed in a context that people can relate to,” she says.

“It uploads your steps for you, and you get messages encouraging you to reach your goal,” she explains.

The programme will be evaluated in a cluster randomised trial and, if successful, could be rolled out nationally from 2019. Grey says they are hoping to recruit 1000 Māori and 1000 Pasifika people.

Trial participants are still needed. If you are interested, email olaora@auckland.ac.nz