Long-term benefits for Maori of an asthma self-management program in a Maori community which takes a partnership approach

Background: In 1991, an intervention trial of the efficacy of an asthma sel fmanagement plan was carried out in partnership with a rural Maori communit y. The program relied on Maori community health workers and other health pr ofessionals working in partnership, was delivered through clinics in tradit ional Maori community centres and Maori processes were followed throughout. The plan was shown to be effective in reducing asthma morbidity. Objective: To assess whether the longterm benefits of the program extend be yond reduced asthma morbidity and the extent to which any additional benefi ts may be related to the partnership approach employed by the program. Method: Forty-seven (68%) of the original program participants were surveye d in August 1997. Participants were questioned on the program's impact in a reas such as cultural development, health service access and lifestyle. Results: In addition to the improvements in asthma morbidity, the program w as found to have four key benefits: cultural affirmation; improved access t o other health services; a greater sense of control for participants; and p ositive impacts on the extended family. Conclusions: The program's benefits extended beyond reduced asthma morbidit y and were not due simply to the introduction of the asthma selfmanagement plan but also to the partnership approach employed by the program. Implications: The study provides support for providing public health servic es for indigenous communities that take a partnership approach, utilise com munity expertise and are delivered in a way that is consistent with each co mmunity's cultural processes.