Funded by: The Health Research Council of New Zealand

Date: May 2020 – November 2020

Amount Awarded: $179,904

Project Team: Dr Lesley Gray (PI), Professor Michael Baker, Professor David Johnston, Ms Cheryl Davies, Ms Rebecca Mason, Dr Viliami Puloka, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Associate Professor James Stanley, Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles, Dr Ayesha Verrall, Dr Julia Becker, Dr Natasha Tassell-Matamua

This research was led by Dr Lesley Gray from the University of Otago. The Centre for Indigenous Psychologies collaborated on components of the project specific to Māori well-being.

This research used mixed-methods to provide a comprehensive picture of the operation of isolation measures in Aotearoa New Zealand during the first COVID outbreak in 2020, including: a population-based sample of people registered with Healthline for self-isolation to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding isolation measures. This research addressed critical knowledge gaps by identifying actions taken, and factors influencing individuals’ understanding of and ability to comply with advice to self-isolate. Findings were fed back rapidly to the Ministry of Health to support immediate improvements in how self-isolation is managed.

Project Outputs:

Gray, L., Rose, SB., Stanley, J., Zhang, J., Tassell-Matamua, N., Puloka, V., . . . Baker, MG. (2021). Factors influencing individual ability to follow physical distancing recommendations in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population survey. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 51(S1), S107-S126

Gray, L., Macdonald, C., Tassell-Matamua, N., Stanley, J., Kvalsvig, A., Zhang, J., . . . Baker, MG. (2020). Wearing one for the team: Views and attitudes to face covering in New Zealand/Aotearoa during COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown. Journal of Primary Health Care. 12(3), 199-206