An Evaluation of the Pasefika Healthy Lifestyles Programme, Pacific Health Service, Porirua

Abstract

The Pasefika healthy lifestyles programme was the initiative of a group of Wellington health agencies concerned over the declining health status of Pacific communities in the region. The migration of Pacific people to New Zealand and the transitional issues experienced by these people have negatively impacted on the health of this community. There is currently overwhelming evidence that lifestyle changes among the Pacific people in New Zealand are associated with a high prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Pasifika healthy lifestyles programme aimed to increase the knowledge and awareness of the importance of physical activity and nutrition among senior members of the Porirua Pacific community. This thesis presents an evaluation of this programme run in Porirua in June, 2004. The Fa'afaletui model was adopted for this process-outcome evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the programme's mode of delivery, learning strategies, participant motivation to attend, and barriers to learning and attendance. The evaluation identified a range of key themes which included: the decision to attend being a family rather than a participant decision; the need to provide transport for participants; and the importance of Pacific fellowship and interaction as a motivation to attend. The participants' assessment of the range of educational strategies identified factors such as the need for health information to be presented in Pacific languages, and the success of a supermarket tour that included menu planning and how to read product labels. Most participants felt the programme was successful and important because it helped them to make lifestyle changes that would benefit their own and their families' health.