August 22, 2016
Researchers probe Maori care difference
Creating greater understanding of how Maori interact with the health system has led to awards for two Victoria University of Wellington researchers.
The awards to Professor Kevin Dew and Dr Kirsten Smiler are part of the Health Research Council’s celebration of its first 25 years.
Professor Dew has focused his career on the sociology of health and illness in New Zealand, including the inequalities in the healthcare system that contribute to lower cancer survival rates for Maori.
His research identified differences in both assessment and treatment, driven not by overt discrimination but by many small influences that can lead to inequalities in care.
This includes how health practitioners categorise people and a potential clash of understandings in relation to the roles that people take on when they enter the hospital system.”
Dr Smiler’s research on the social and linguistic experiences of Maori deaf people, has laid a foundation for improvements in services and supports.
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