Examines the health literacy experiences among Māori and their whānau carers who use palliative care.

Executive summary

The New Zealand Palliative Care Strategy recognised the need for local and national policies that support the specific needs of Māori.

Two kaupapa Māori research projects (ie, projects carried out within a Māori philosophical framework) were commissioned by the Ministry of Health and the Health Research Council of New Zealand Māori Health Joint Venture programme. While there are increasing numbers of research projects about access to palliative care for Māori and others, these are the first studies to have taken a health literacy perspective.

Health literacy impacts on both providers and patients. The Institute of Medicine defines health literacy as ‘the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions’. For health professionals, health literacy is about their ability to communicate health information and build skills and knowledge. For health organisations, health literacy is about the appropriateness of the health information and services they provide for patients and their families, as well as the organisational systems and processes that support health professionals to build health literacy.

The aim of the research projects documented in this report was to identify, from a health literacy perspective, issues for Māori and their whānau (extended family) in accessing palliative care services. By identifying these issues, the research was designed to contribute to better service delivery of palliative care and improved access to palliative care for Māori and their whānau.

The first project was led by the University of Auckland (Kidd et al 2014) in partnership with UniServices, Workbase, and the Māori and palliative care communities. This project was carried out in the Bay of Plenty and Auckland regions.

The second research project was led by the Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust Project Team (2013) in collaboration with research team members from the Te Kotahi Research Institute (University of Waikato), Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa, Te Puna Oranga and the Palliative Care Unit (Waikato District Health Board), and the Waikato Clinical School (University of Auckland). This project was carried out in the Waikato region.

This document combines the original research of both projects, and unless otherwise specified the analysis is derived from both studies. Generally the two projects reached similar conclusions. The preparation of this document was commissioned by the Ministry of Health and the Health Research Council.