Is there a role for Rongoā Māori in public hospitals? The results of a hospital staff survey.

Background: Rongoā Māori is the traditional form of healing for Māori. This investigation describes the results of an internet-based survey of staff at Waitemata District Health Board (WDHB) about their attitudes towards the placement of Rongoā Māori into the hospital system.

Methods: An electronic survey was circulated to approximately 6,000 employees of the WDHB. Responders were asked questions pertaining to Rongoā Māori and issues relating to potential implementation of a Rongoā Māori service.

Results: There were 1,181 responses (response rate 19.6%) of whom 80% were female, 87% aged between 20 and 60 years, 67% European ethnicity, 18% Māori and 66% worked as medical practitioners or nurses. Forty-six percent were familiar with Rongoā Māori, and 16% had used Rongoā Māori on themselves or whānau. About 32% of responders felt that Rongoā Māori should be available to patients and staff and that this service should be provided by a specially trained Rongoā Māori practitioners or WDHB staff member.

Conclusion: Nearly half of WDHB staff, who responded to the survey, had a knowledge of Rongoā Māori and just over a third of the total responders supported its availability within the hospital system. A larger feasibility study will consult with healer, staff and patient participants to ascertain the culturally appropriate and medically robust practices necessary for researching Rongoā Māori collaboration with medical treatment.