Implementing YouthCHAT – evaluation and development of an implementation framework

Purpose A high proportion of indigenous Māori, a generally socioeconomically deprived population, live in Northland, New Zealand. Māori youth suffer rate mental ill-health, substance misuse, and other risky behaviours. While evidence demonstrates that early detection management these issues leads to long-term positive health outcomes, implementation systematic screening intervention is challenging. YouthCHAT self-administered digital tool young people for concerns Our purpose was implement into Northland services using an iterative process implementation, evaluation, modification, create framework national-level rollout. Approach bicultural approach combined Kaupapa research co-design principles inform evaluation. Informed by field notes, informal communications plus focus groups, interviews with end-users, we identified addressed barriers uptake YouthCHAT. Consolidated normalisation theory theoretical underpinnings the project. We measured number screens completed. Discussion It took three years successfully embed it usual practice. change needed at all levels, from individual practitioner service team through over-arching system. programming remote functionality during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown contributed YouthCHAT's ultimate acceptability implementation. The cultural context which introduced often overlooked. This partnership may be time-consuming However, will only adopted where there local ownership seen as fit purpose. addresses importance communication coordination acceptance innovation, ongoing evaluation integral part generalisable settings augments models such consolidated currently available. Plain language summary region Zealand has particularly population Māori. Early means they can are less likely have future social problems. implemented created principles, information many sources including staff surveys, Programming COVID-19 ultimately enthusiastically if success now being