Understanding the challenges and opportunities for Pacific allied health staff to enable culturally responsive care in Aotearoa New Zealand

Larissa Biggs; Sione Vaka; Catherine Cook

doi:10.24135/pacifichealth.v8i1.98

Larissa Biggs Te Whatu Ora, Counties Manukau, Middlemore Hospital, 100 Hospital Road, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
Sione Vaka Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Hillcrest Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8791-7131
Catherine Cook Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3976-6858

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24135/pacifichealth.v8i1.98

Keywords: Pacific, allied health, culturally responsive, cultural load

Abstract

Introduction: There are low numbers of Pacific allied health professionals in Aotearoa, which warrants urgent prioritisation of more Pacific allied health professionals. Life expectancy differentials persist among Pacific people in Aotearoa compared to non-Pacific.

Methods: This qualitative study explored the challenges and opportunities for Pacific allied health staff to enable culturally responsive care in Aotearoa. The research explores the perspectives of five Pacific allied health professionals utilising Talanoa methodology and thematic analysis.

Discussion: Four themes were identified: theme one, Cultural capability and capacity; theme two, Pacific values and responsibilities; theme three, “I struggle navigating white spaces”, and theme four, Emotional and cultural intelligence.

Conclusion: This study identified three meta-themes: cultural isolation, cultural intelligence, and cultural load. Pacific cultural knowledge and expertise are crucial in helping non-Pacific allied health clinicians recognise and embrace culturally responsive healthcare. This study contributes to the gap in the literature by highlighting the challenges and opportunities Pacific allied health professionals experience in Aotearoa.