Talofa Samoa and welcome back to your weekly Physiotherapy column! For the past few months, I have been completing my Master of Physiotherapy degree from the University of Otago. 

Last week I got to present some of my research at the Pacific Voices Symposium in Dunedin and will briefly describe some of the background about my study in this column.

In my Foundation year at the National University of Samoa, I was successful in obtaining a scholarship to study physiotherapy at the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago. After completing my studies, I graduated in 2019 and returned home to work at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in 2020.

Our small team of three physios and three physio assistants were stretched thin across six departments during COVID, and we had our work cut out for us. During this time I worked with many stroke patients on the Acute 8 ward. Because of our limited physical and human resources, I felt the need to ensure that I was working and thinking to the best of my ability so that I could give the best service to my patients.

I had many questions about how best to treat Samoan stroke survivors. I was unsure about what the academic literature had to say about encouraging physical activity in Samoan stroke survivors. This led me to enrol in a postgraduate certificate endorsed in Neurorehabilitation. I quickly learnt that there was no research published on Samoan stroke survivors, so my supervisor and I decided it would be best to upgrade my qualification to a Masters so that I could write the answers that I was looking for. I applied for a Manaaki Scholarship last year, and here I am today, with my thesis topic: exploring the beliefs and perspectives of Samoan stroke survivors about the meaning and value of physical activity.

Background for my study:

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in New Zealand where approximately 9000 individuals experience this condition each year. While rates of stroke are steadily declining in New Zealand European populations, stroke rates are rising in Pacific and Māori populations. It is well documented in the literature that engaging in physical activity not only reduces the risk of stroke but also increases the function and quality of life of stroke survivors.

However, research shows that fewer than half of adults in New Zealand meet physical activity guidelines with Pacific peoples being less active than their non-Pacific counterparts. Physical activity engagement levels for adults with stroke in New Zealand are currently unknown. Pacific adults face unique barriers to physical activity participation such as insufficient representation of diverse role models advocating for physical activity, commitments to their aiga (families) and communities, and insufficient support from family members when trying to engage in physical activity. Pacific stroke survivors are at a further disadvantage because of their stroke-related impairments.

Resources to increase stroke survivors’ participation in physical activity are limited and many Pacific peoples find that these health education resources often do not resonate with them or consider those who use English as a second language. The Te Mana Ola Engagement report has highlighted that several Pacific communities feel that there is a limited amount of knowledge on how to incorporate Pacific belief systems in the current models of care and believe that only Pacific peoples have the best understanding of the challenges they face.

To my research team’s knowledge, there is currently no research that uses the Pacific methodology to explore how Samoan stroke survivors value physical activity participation for well-being. To contribute to the advancement of Pacific health research by Pacific people, for Pacific people, my study aims to explore Samoan stroke survivors’ views and perspectives about the meaning and value of physical activity.

I have finished with the data collection portion of my study and am submitting my thesis in February next year. My study is funded by the Manaaki Scholarship program and I am grateful to both the Government of Samoa and the Government of New Zealand for choosing to invest in me as a researcher and physiotherapist.

Eliana Viali is a physiotherapist and can be emailed at [email protected] for further information.