Primary Care for Pacific People: A Pacific and Health Systems Approach (original) (raw)
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Primary Care for Pacific People - A Pacific and Health Systems View
Compared to the total New Zealand population, Pacific peoples have poorer health status and appear to have gained least from changes in primary care delivery, and yet there is a paucity of information to support health service improvements for Pacific peoples. The aim of this research is to examine current primary care trends and use by Pacific peoples, through two perspectives – the perspective of the health system and a Pacific consumers’ perspective. With this approach, we aim to identify more effective ways to improve Pacific peoples’ access to and utilisation of primary care.
Access to general practice for Pacific peoples: a place for cultural competency
Journal of primary health care, 2012
Access to primary health care services has been identified as a problem for Pacific peoples. Although cost is the most frequently cited barrier to Pacific service utilisation, some research has indicated that access may also be influenced by features of mainstream primary care services. This study aimed to identify features of mainstream general practice services that act as barriers to accessing these services for Pacific peoples in order to explore strategies that providers could adopt to enable their practices to be more welcoming, accessible and appropriate for Pacific peoples. Pacific participants were recruited through Pacific networks known to Pegasus Health and via 'snowball' sampling. In total, 20 participants participated in one of three focus groups. A semi-structured interview explored the participants' views and experiences of mainstream general practice care. Thematic analysis was utilised to interpret the data. The analysis revealed five themes highlightin...
Emerging needs, evolving services: The health of Pacific peoples in New Zealand
Kotuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 2008
From 0.1% of the total population in 1945 to 6.9% in 2006, Pacific peoples now resident in New Zealand highlight significant health policy and service delivery issues within an increasingly diverse society. over the last decade, marked differences in the health status of Pacific New Zealanders and Palagi New Zealanders have been well documented, showing high levels of disparity and continuing negative trends. This paper provides a broad overview of the history of Pacific health and health initiatives in New Zealand from the 1940s through to the mid 2000s, highlighting the interface between Pacific peoples and the New Zealand health sector. While the New Zealand Government has become increasingly responsive to Pacific health needs, significant disparities remain between Pacific and Palagi populations. Furthermore, many of the encouraging health initiatives introduced in the past decade remain at risk due to a variety of factors, including a need to strengthen the Pacific health workforce and management expertise.
The Pacific Advisory Group: reflections on its utility in health research
Pacific health dialog, 2009
There is a prevailing wisdom that in undertaking health research relevant to Pacific peoples, a Pacific or ethnic advisory group will make sensible and positive contributions. These contributions can includ enhancing workforce capabilities, providing cultural knowledge and technical expertise, and supplying access to a range of both professional networks and community linkages. However, there are a number o issues that challenge the practical implementation of this wisdom. The aim of this paper is to reflect on, and share practical insights and experiences on the process of operating a Pacific advisory group as part of a injury prevention research project conducted in Wellington, New Zealand. We share five insights, on the practicalities of involving a Pacific advisory group in a research project, with the intent of assisting others who are considering initiating, planning and conducting research with Pacific communities.
Journal of Primary Health Care
INTRODUCTION: Pacific people suffer disproportionately poorer health and reduced life expectancy at birth compared to the total New Zealand population. AIM: To assess causes of excess morbidity in the Pacific population, and identify lesser known or previously unknown causes which require further investigation. METHODS: We obtained public hospital discharge data from July 2000 to December 2002. The population data were from the 2001 Census. Standardised discharge ratios were calculated to compare Pacific peoples with the total New Zealand population. RESULTS: Pacific peoples were six times more likely to have a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and gout, and four to five times of rheumatic fever, gastric ulcer, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and diabetes. Respiratory diseases, skin abscesses, heart failure, cataracts, cerebral infarction and chronic renal failure were also significant causes of excess morbidity. Unexpected causes of excess morbidity included candidiasis, excess vomit...
Ethnicity & Health, 2002
Objective. There is a large disparity in health status between the indigenous peoples of the US Associated Pacific compared to any population in the USA. The research process that has been supported by US academic institutions and federal agencies has been limited in its ability to address the disparate health issues and may be part of the problem. We define culturally competent research and review approaches to developing competency in cross-cultural research with indigenous Pacific Islander populations. Design. This is a descriptive review of the investigators' experience in the Hawaii MEDTEP Center experience and of the experience of others conducting research with the indigenous people of the Pacific Islands. Results. Culturally competent cross-cultural research with the indigenous peoples of the Pacific requires an understanding and application of indigenous peoples' paradigms of health, knowledge, science, and research. It is not sufficient to train more indigenous Pacific Islanders to do more Western-style research. Unraveling the complex health situation and determining the changes that need to be made is dependent on the dominant culture engaging the indigenous Pacific populations in a way that bridges cultural paradigms. Conclusion. Positively affecting the disparity of health in the indigenous populations of the Pacific is, in part, dependent on employing an indigenous-peoples-centered model of research. The model can have application to the study of indigenous peoples in other parts of the world.