Increasing adherence to Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) guidelines in Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities

Client: The Ministry of Health 

Challenge
As part of the Government’s response to COVID-19, whānau who tested positive for COVID-19 were placed in MIQ facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community. A disproportionate number of community cases were Māori and Pasifika. The Ministry wanted to understand what would help MIQ guests to follow the IPC rules.

What we did
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) partnered with WēBē and Te Rau Ora to understand the barriers and enablers to following IPC behaviours within MIQ facilities and to suggest ways to increase adherence to IPC guidelines. We used both kaupapa Māori and behavioural science principles to underpin the project.

Outcome
We uncovered a number of insights relevant to each stage of the MIQ journey that influenced whether whānau followed IPC rules. We made 15 recommendations and produced a journey map so the Ministry could see at a glance where the key behavioural opportunities lay for improving adherence to IPC guidelines.

Key take-aways
We used both kaupapa Māori and behavioural science principles to underpin our insights. We worked in an agile way to keep up with a fast-changing MIQ environment and co-designed solutions. We produced a visually appealing final report and journey map to facilitate the Ministry’s decision making.