June 09, 2013
Health barrier identified
A new study claims that so-called professionalism in the health service acts as a barrier to Māori men’s health.
Findings of the Oranga Tane Māori research project have been published in AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, published by Ngā Pae ō te Maramatanga, the centre for Māori research excellence.
One of the researchers, Jacquie Kidd, says they interviewed Māori men with chronic disease or cancer about their experiences of the health system, in light of the significant health inequalities between Māori and non-Māori men.
She says whakama or shyness and embarrassment was a barrier, and Māori patients and their whānau need to be engaged through genuine and respectful interpersonal relationships.
The tendency for health professionals and services to distance themselves from patients in the name of professionalism is contributing to poor health outcomes for Māori.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd