scholarly journals Gamifying Parenting Education Using an App Developed for Pacific and Other New Zealand Families (Play Kindly): Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A Mairs ◽  
Marthinus J Bekker ◽  
Tony Patolo ◽  
Sarah A Hopkins ◽  
Esther T Cowley-Malcolm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Culturally Specific ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Childhood Parenting

BACKGROUND Play Kindly is a gamified animated app designed to address common behavioral problems in childhood. The interface is designed to appeal to Pacific people, a population group with a higher risk of developing clinically significant behavioral problems than most other ethnic groups in New Zealand. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to explore the opinions of parents and professionals about the acceptability, usability, and content of Play Kindly. METHODS We used qualitative and Pacific and Māori research methodologies. A total of five focus groups with 45 parents and 12 individual interviews with professionals were conducted. The five focus groups consisted of 2 pan-Pacific groups, 1 Māori group, 1 open group, and 1 group of young Pacific adults or prospective parents. The professionals were from a range of disciplines, and the majority had expertise in early childhood, parenting interventions, or research in this field. RESULTS Play Kindly appealed to both parents and professionals. Participants related to the scenarios, which were created in collaboration with a playwright and animator. Although most participants liked the Pacific feel, there was some disagreement about how culturally specific the app should be. A range of issues with usability and gamification techniques were highlighted, likely attributed to the low budget and lack of initial co-design with parents as well as professionals with specific expertise in parenting. A number of parents and professionals felt that the parenting strategies were overly simplified and did not take into account the context in which the behavior occurred. Professionals suggested narrowing the focus of the app to deliver two important parenting messages: playing with your child and positively reinforcing desired behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Play Kindly is the first culturally adapted parenting app of its kind designed for Pacific parents and other New Zealanders with children 2-5 years of age. This app has potential in Pacific communities where there are limited culturally specific parenting resources. The results of this study will guide improvements of the app prior to testing it in an open trial.

scholarly journals Gamifying Parenting Education Using an App Developed for Pacific and Other New Zealand Families (Play Kindly): Qualitative Study

10.2196/15647 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e15647
Author(s):  
Rebecca A Mairs ◽  
Marthinus J Bekker ◽  
Tony Patolo ◽  
Sarah A Hopkins ◽  
Esther T Cowley-Malcolm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Culturally Specific ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Childhood Parenting

Background Play Kindly is a gamified animated app designed to address common behavioral problems in childhood. The interface is designed to appeal to Pacific people, a population group with a higher risk of developing clinically significant behavioral problems than most other ethnic groups in New Zealand. Objective The aim of this study is to explore the opinions of parents and professionals about the acceptability, usability, and content of Play Kindly. Methods We used qualitative and Pacific and Māori research methodologies. A total of five focus groups with 45 parents and 12 individual interviews with professionals were conducted. The five focus groups consisted of 2 pan-Pacific groups, 1 Māori group, 1 open group, and 1 group of young Pacific adults or prospective parents. The professionals were from a range of disciplines, and the majority had expertise in early childhood, parenting interventions, or research in this field. Results Play Kindly appealed to both parents and professionals. Participants related to the scenarios, which were created in collaboration with a playwright and animator. Although most participants liked the Pacific feel, there was some disagreement about how culturally specific the app should be. A range of issues with usability and gamification techniques were highlighted, likely attributed to the low budget and lack of initial co-design with parents as well as professionals with specific expertise in parenting. A number of parents and professionals felt that the parenting strategies were overly simplified and did not take into account the context in which the behavior occurred. Professionals suggested narrowing the focus of the app to deliver two important parenting messages: playing with your child and positively reinforcing desired behaviors. Conclusions Play Kindly is the first culturally adapted parenting app of its kind designed for Pacific parents and other New Zealanders with children 2-5 years of age. This app has potential in Pacific communities where there are limited culturally specific parenting resources. The results of this study will guide improvements of the app prior to testing it in an open trial.

Cytisine as an alternative smoking cessation product for Pacific smokers in New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-95
Author(s):  
Vili Nosa ◽  
Kotalo Leau ◽  
Natalie Walker
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Partial Agonist ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Liquid Form ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
The Pacific

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pacific people in New Zealand have one of the highest rates of smoking.  Cytisine is a plant-based alkaloid that has proven efficacy, effectiveness and safety compared to a placebo and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation.  Cytisine, like varenicline, is a partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and blocks the rewarding effects of nicotine. Cytisine is naturally found in some plants in the Pacific region, and so may appeal to Pacific smokers wanting to quit. This paper investigates the acceptability of cytisine as a smoking cessation product for Pacific smokers in New Zealand, using a qualitative study design. Methods: In December 2015, advertisements and snowball sampling was used to recruit four Pacific smokers and three Pacific smoking cessation specialists in Auckland, New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews where undertaken, whereby participants were asked about motivations to quit and their views on smoking cessation products, including cytisine (which is currently unavailable in New Zealand). Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, with thematic analysis conducted manually. Findings: Pacific smokers reported wanting to quit for loved ones and family, but did not find currently available smoking cessation products effective. Almost all participants had not previously heard of cytisine, but many of the Pacific smokers were keen to try it. Participants identified with cytisine on a cultural basis (given its natural status), but noted that their use would be determined by the efficacy of the medicine, its cost, side-effects, and accessibility. They were particularly interested in cytisine being made available in liquid form, which could be added to a “smoothie” or drunk as a “traditional tea”.  Participants thought cytisine should be promoted in a culturally-appropriate way, with packaging and advertising designed to appeal to Pacific smokers. Conclusions: Cytisine is more acceptable to Pacific smokers than other smoking cessation products, because of their cultural practices of traditional medicine and the natural product status of cytisine.

scholarly journals The characteristics of behaviour change interventions used among Pacific people: a systematic search and narrative synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amio Matenga-Ikihele ◽  
Judith McCool ◽  
Rosie Dobson ◽  
Fuafiva Fa’alau ◽  
Robyn Whittaker
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Support ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Behaviour Change Interventions ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
The Pacific

Abstract Background Pacific people living in New Zealand, Australia, United States, and the Pacific region continue to experience a disproportionately high burden of long-term conditions, making culturally contextualised behaviour change interventions a priority. The primary aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of behaviour change interventions designed to improve health and effect health behaviour change among Pacific people. Methods Electronic searches were carried out on OVID Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase and SCOPUS databases (initial search January 2019 and updated in January 2020) for studies describing an intervention designed to change health behaviour(s) among Pacific people. Titles and abstracts of 5699 papers were screened; 201 papers were then independently assessed. A review of full text was carried out by three of the authors resulting in 208 being included in the final review. Twenty-seven studies were included, published in six countries between 1996 and 2020. Results Important characteristics in the interventions included meaningful partnerships with Pacific communities using community-based participatory research and ensuring interventions were culturally anchored and centred on collectivism using family or social support. Most interventions used social cognitive theory, followed by popular behaviour change techniques instruction on how to perform a behaviour and social support (unspecified). Negotiating the spaces between Eurocentric behaviour change constructs and Pacific worldviews was simplified using Pacific facilitators and talanoa. This relational approach provided an essential link between academia and Pacific communities. Conclusions This systematic search and narrative synthesis provides new and important insights into potential elements and components when designing behaviour change interventions for Pacific people. The paucity of literature available outside of the United States highlights further research is required to reflect Pacific communities living in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific region. Future research needs to invest in building research capacity within Pacific communities, centering self-determining research agendas and findings to be led and owned by Pacific communities.

scholarly journals Toungāue cooperative pedagogy for Tongan tertiary students’ success

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 18-29
Author(s):  
Telesia Kalavite
Keyword(s):  
Academic Success ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Sociocultural Context ◽  
Culturally Specific ◽  
Indigenous Cultures ◽  
Educational Environments ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Students Success

Cooperative Pedagogy specific to Tongans can enhance students’ academic success in New Zealand’s tertiary education. Tongan students’ success depends on teachers’ recognition and understanding of Tongan students’ sociocultural context which involves their pule‘anga (bureaucracy), famili/kāinga (family), siasi (church) and fonua (country) relationships. Tongan students should not be treated within the Pacific groupings because ‘Pacific’ is a term of convenience for peoples who originate from different countries in the Pacific region whose cultures are uniquely different from one another. The term ‘Pacific’ tends to make these students live in the shadow of being treated as if they have the same needs in the classroom. The culturally specific needs of Pacific students are obscured by the assumption that they are homogenous. Academics and educational authorities in New Zealand need to recognise the importance of Pacific students’ culturally specific needs in their educational environments to move towards solving the problems of underachievement. This article explores the use of a culturally specific Tongan Toungāue Cooperative Pedagogy for teaching Tongan students in New Zealand tertiary education. Toungāue Cooperative Pedagogy is rooted in Tongan students’ sociocultural context which is at the heart of the Tongan society. More importantly, this proposed Toungāue Cooperative Pedagogy is transferable and could also be beneficial to other Pacific and Indigenous cultures.

scholarly journals What are young Pacific peoples understandings of leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Grace Faletutulu
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Leadership Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Leadership Development Programs ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Education Outcomes ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Leadership Beliefs

<p>This thesis is an exploration of the way leadership is understood by young Pacific peoples. It looks at the possible relationship between leadership and education outcomes for young Pacific peoples. It is located in an interpretative paradigm, and uses qualitative methods and seeks phenomenological date. This is because individuals interpret experiences differently, therefore understanding how these young Pacific people interpret ideas can help answer the thesis question. As Pacific research it foregrounds Pacific concepts such as vā and Pacific methods such as talanoa. These features seek to alignment with the community participating in the study. The findings suggest that young Pacific peoples understand leadership as a negotiation between Pacific and Western ideas. This negotiation is performed contextually. However, young Pacific peoples are also redefining leadership for themselves and a way they are doing this is by combining their Pacific and Western understandings of leadership. From the research there were three implications found for young Pacific peoples. Firstly, too much focus on culture can become a problem. Secondly, the different contexts that young Pacific peoples are being raised in influences their leadership beliefs, especially compared to the older generation. Lastly, young Pacific peoples need to receive recognition for their ability to negotiate ideas between the Pacific and Western worlds. Therefore, recommendations for future research come under two main categories environment. This is focused on rethinking leadership, firstly for young Pacific peoples in New Zealand-Pacific context, then rethinking for young Pacific peoples in a Western context. The second recommendation discusses ways to improve leadership development programs for young Pacific peoples in New Zealand.</p>

scholarly journals Covid-19 outbreak reflects inequities in health and socioeconomic disadvantage in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 475-476
Author(s):  
Colin Tukuitonga ◽  
Alec Ekeroma
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Socioeconomic Disadvantage ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Timely Reminder

The Covid-19 outbreak in Aotearoa/New Zealand is a timely reminder of the chronic inequities in health and the importance of socioeconomic factors in the origins of the disease. The pandemic has affected mainly indigenous Maori and Pacific people.  There were 5,371 confirmed and probable cases of Covid-19 as at 13 November 2021, of which 2,104 (39%) were in Maori and 1,646 (31%) were in Pacific people.  Furthermore, 228 (70%) of all hospital admissions were Maori and Pacific people

scholarly journals Pacific People in Parliament:  a Case Study of Minority Representation in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Helena Cook
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Electoral Reform ◽  
Liberal Democracies ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
The Pacific

<p>Analysing the nature of political representation raises questions about the roles of political representatives: who it is they represent and what they do once in Parliament. However, the roles of MPs can be affected by several factors: institutions; political rules; identity; and the norms, values and expectations of the groups they advocate for. This thesis assumes that all of these factors play an important part in shaping the roles of political representatives and are particularly significant in understanding minority political representation. This case study of political representation of the Pacific Island migrant community in New Zealand analyses the roles and perceptions of minority MPs through their own words. Despite a wealth of literature on the wider subject of political representation, very little takes into account the perspective of the MPs themselves, and this thesis uses in-depth interview data to place the narrative of Pacific political representation in New Zealand into a wider context of the roles of minority MPs in advanced liberal democracies. Arguments for the increased political representation of minority groups are often based on the assumption that achieving a 'politics of presence' is essential for democracies, because minority groups need people from within the group to speak on their behalf. Thus only people with a shared history or shared experiences can adequately represent the needs of a minority group. This thesis shows that Pacific political representation is viewed by the MPs as important, because it reflects the multicultural nature of New Zealand society, allows for issues that affect Pacific people to be addressed in a political forum and enables Pacific MPs to bring a more collective approach to New Zealand's Westminster Parliamentary democracy. Political institutions and electoral reform have all affected Pacific representation in New Zealand, demonstrating that these factors should not be overlooked when considering the roles of minority MPs. New Zealand's experience of electoral reform has seen an increase of minority political representation, and the Maori seats in New Zealand's House of Representatives demonstrate how political representation for indigenous minorities can be implemented. This thesis is an exploratory work into the political journeys of New Zealand's Pacific MPs; an area that has previously been overlooked or neglected, but one that is vital to increase understanding of the roles of minority political representatives.</p>

Exploring success amongst Pacific families in New Zealand: Findings from the Pacific Islands Families Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 216-225
Author(s):  
El-Shadan Tautolo ◽  
Julienne Faletau ◽  
Leon Iusitini ◽  
Janis Paterson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Service Provision ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Family Connectedness ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Pacific Population ◽  
The Pacific

An overarching objective of New Zealand society is equitable educational, economic, and health outcomes for all citizens, including its Pacific population. In response to these ambitions, this study explored success and what elements are necessary for Pacific families to be successful in New Zealand. Focus groups were undertaken with 29 Pacific fathers and 27 Pacific mothers aged between 35-71 years. An inductive thematic analytical approach was used to code and identify themes from the data. Pacific methodologies, including the Talanoa and Kakala frameworks, were integral in the systematic process of data analysis. Three key factors were found to represent and constitute success for Pacific families: strong religious affiliation, practicing and embracing Pacific cultural identity, and family connectedness and cohesion. Incorporating these key facets into social service provision to enable Pacific people to lead successful, productive lives and Pacific families to function successfully.

scholarly journals Pacific People in Parliament:  a Case Study of Minority Representation in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Helena Cook
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Electoral Reform ◽  
Liberal Democracies ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
The Pacific

<p>Analysing the nature of political representation raises questions about the roles of political representatives: who it is they represent and what they do once in Parliament. However, the roles of MPs can be affected by several factors: institutions; political rules; identity; and the norms, values and expectations of the groups they advocate for. This thesis assumes that all of these factors play an important part in shaping the roles of political representatives and are particularly significant in understanding minority political representation. This case study of political representation of the Pacific Island migrant community in New Zealand analyses the roles and perceptions of minority MPs through their own words. Despite a wealth of literature on the wider subject of political representation, very little takes into account the perspective of the MPs themselves, and this thesis uses in-depth interview data to place the narrative of Pacific political representation in New Zealand into a wider context of the roles of minority MPs in advanced liberal democracies. Arguments for the increased political representation of minority groups are often based on the assumption that achieving a 'politics of presence' is essential for democracies, because minority groups need people from within the group to speak on their behalf. Thus only people with a shared history or shared experiences can adequately represent the needs of a minority group. This thesis shows that Pacific political representation is viewed by the MPs as important, because it reflects the multicultural nature of New Zealand society, allows for issues that affect Pacific people to be addressed in a political forum and enables Pacific MPs to bring a more collective approach to New Zealand's Westminster Parliamentary democracy. Political institutions and electoral reform have all affected Pacific representation in New Zealand, demonstrating that these factors should not be overlooked when considering the roles of minority MPs. New Zealand's experience of electoral reform has seen an increase of minority political representation, and the Maori seats in New Zealand's House of Representatives demonstrate how political representation for indigenous minorities can be implemented. This thesis is an exploratory work into the political journeys of New Zealand's Pacific MPs; an area that has previously been overlooked or neglected, but one that is vital to increase understanding of the roles of minority political representatives.</p>

scholarly journals Commentary: Pasifika media in the digital era

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Utanga
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Pacific Islanders ◽  
Pacific People ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Media Services ◽  
The Media ◽  
Almost All

The proportion of people who identified as Pacific Islanders in New Zealand grew by 14.7 percent to 265,974 in the 2005 Census. Overall, Pacific people now comprise almost 7 percent of the total New Zealand population. As the Pacific communities have grown, so have the Pasifika media developed and grown. Today, most of the Pacific Islands community has become well served by radio, newspapers, online media and, to a lesser extent, television—but not well served by mainstream media. Almost all of the media services are owned/and or operated by Pacific Islands businesses or organisations based either in New Zealand or in the Islands. This commentary outlines the state of Pasifika media in New Zealand and the challenges ahead for telling Pacific stories in the digital era.

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