Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

This presentation describes the initial steps in conducting studies by Massey University to identify strategies to improve the provision and use of specialist and primary palliative care among Pacific people in New Zealand (NZ). The NZ Ministry of Health is reviewing Palliative Care Services in New Zealand including the assessment of the access and utilisation of such services among the NZ Pacific population. The Pacific people in NZ have a disproportionately high health and socioeconomic burden from Non communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, cancer, and respiratory diseases (conditions that would benefit from Palliative care). Palliative care has not always been responsive to indigenous cultural needs, the lack of which may result in unwanted outcomes and loss of trust in health care services. Very few studies have explored palliative care services among Pacific people in NZ. We hypothesise that issues to do with the complexity of socio-cultural perspectives and interactions in the delivery of palliative care is a significant barrier for adequate access of these services for Pacific people. We are conducting mixed methods research involving a quantitative assessment of access to and use of palliative care by Pacific people in 3 Hospice care services, and other national data and a qualitative assessment systematically exploring the perspectives and experiences of Pacific palliative patients, their immediate family and hospice service providers on challenges and enablers for the use of Palliative care and will integrate the findings with previous research to inform policies to improving Palliative health care for Pacific people in NZ.

Biography

Email: S.Foliaki@massey.ac.nz