Young wahine are quitting smoking with the help of a Māori artificially intelligent (AI) system. Kuīni is an AI chatbot, which lets people interact with digital devices as if they are communicating with a real person. It has a personality, a face and an attitude similar to young, dynamic and diverse Māori women. Ngā Puhi/Samoa artist Coco Solid (Jessica Hansell) led the concept of Kuīni through Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency. Users can select an avatar (a graphical representation) to bring Kuīni to life. They have been designed by Kāi Tahu artist Xoë Hall and range from a barefoot, horse-riding hunter to a piercing-laden vet, driving a hot pink Chev.
Kuīni runs through Facebook Messenger, checks in three times a day and is available 24/7. Women are supported for the first 30 days of their smokefree journey for free. Te Hiringa Hauora’s Gisborne contact, Dr Wiremu Reihana, said more people smoked in Tairāwhiti than any other region in New Zealand, especially wahine Maori in the 15 to 34 years age group. The most recent Ministry of Health survey (2017-2020) showed the estimated number of smokers in Gisborne was 12,000 — 9000 of them Māori, and 3735 of them Māori women.
Dr Reihana said this was a big problem which needed a well-thought-out solution. “Kuīni’s concept has been in the pipeline for the past three years — since young wahine Māori were identified as a priority group by the Government. A survey found young wahine Māori who wanted to stop smoking preferred to do it “cold turkey”, without any support services. “We know that doesn’t work. It’s the least successful way to stop smoking. In fact we know that 95 percent of people who stop smoking cold turkey fail and relapse after six months. “We thought there must be a way to help these people. Using a digital product crossed our mind and that’s how Kuīni came about.”
Dr Reihana said a digital approach was needed because a lot of young wahine Māori felt whakamā (shame) about going to and accessing quit smoking services. “They think it would be better just to do it on their own.” Dr Reihana said Kuīni supported wahine on their individual journey. “It is made to feel like you’re speaking to a friend who understands tikanga and Māoritanga. Every time you want to have a smoke, Kuīni will have something to say about it. “It can identify five different responses and can respond back for each one of them in detail. It will ask you about your cravings and identify the trigger times to check up on you.”
Dr Reihana said there was also an opportunity for Kuīni to be integrated into quit smoking services, especially during Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, or when there was a waiting time between coach sessions. “In Tairāwhiti, we have spoken with Turanga Health, Ngāti Porou Hauora, Te Whare Hauora o Te Aitanga Hauiti, and the district health board (Hauora Tairāwhiti) and they are all very supportive of Kuīni.”
Hauora Tairāwhiti planning, funding and population health general manager Nicola Ehau says Kuīni “presents itself as a good option for someone who doesn’t want to see ‘a person’ . . . and it provides a lot of useful tips and advice to someone who is contemplating wanting to quit”. Pinnacle Midlands Health Network smoking cessation lead Selena Batt said young wahine Māori were a priority group. “In Tairāwhiti we still have the highest smoking rates in the country and we tend to take a bit longer to quit.
“We are the Ministry of Health-funded quit smoking service. We have found the chances of quitting are increased exponentially if we have got the right tools or medication, whatever that might be, along with face-to-face behavioural support. “Obviously in Covid-19 Alert Levels 3 or 4, it is very difficult to continue our face-to-face support so we try to use online digital tools to support whānau.”
Source: gisborneherald.co.nz
