Pacific Peoples' Experiences of Cancer and Its Treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand Through Talanoa: A Qualitative Study of Samoan and Tongan Participants.

JCO Glob Oncol

Auckland Regional Cancer and Blood Service, Te Toka Tumai Auckland, Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora, Auckland, New Zealand.

Published: January 2025

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study examines the experiences of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand with cancer treatment, focusing on the disparities they face compared to other ethnic groups.
  • Data were collected through interviews with Samoan and Tongan patients, revealing five significant themes: perceptions of cancer, the need for holistic support, importance of communication and trust, financial barriers to care, and the need for better representation in healthcare.
  • The findings emphasize the necessity for improved oncology care models that address the unique cultural and systemic challenges faced by Pacific communities to enhance access and support.

Article Abstract

Purpose: In Aotearoa New Zealand, there are inequitable outcomes for Pacific peoples who experience higher rates of preventable cancers and poorer survival compared with other ethnicities. The aim of this study was to explore Pacific peoples lived experience of cancer and its treatment in the Auckland setting.

Methods: Data were collected through semistructured interviews (talanoa) with Pacific patients under the Auckland Regional Cancer and Blood Service. A general inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Ethical approval was granted by the Auckland Health Research Ethics Committee (reference number AH24086).

Results: Thirteen participants of Samoan and Tongan ethnicity were interviewed. Participants had a range of tumor diagnoses and were receiving curative and noncurative treatments. Five key themes were identified, giving insight into beliefs around cancer, struggles faced by patients, and potential areas of priority. These include (1) cancer means death, (2) holistic and collective approach to support, (3) communication and trust, (4) cost in accessing cancer care and treatment, and (5) Pacific representation.

Conclusion: This study sheds light on both positive and negative experiences of Pacific peoples living with cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. It highlights gaps in the current model of oncology care for this population, which are multilevel and therefore require a multifaceted approach. It calls for priority toward reducing barriers to access of care and creating a more culturally safe pathway.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/GO.24.00133DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

aotearoa zealand
12
pacific peoples
12
cancer treatment
8
samoan tongan
8
cancer
7
pacific
6
pacific peoples'
4
peoples' experiences
4
experiences cancer
4
treatment aotearoa
4

Similar Publications

Objectives: To investigate potential sleep inequities between the infants of Māori and non-Māori mothers in Aotearoa New Zealand, identify socio-ecological factors associated with infant sleep, and determine features of infant sleep that contribute to a mother-perceived infant sleep problem.

Design: Secondary analysis of longitudinal data from the Moe Kura: Mother and Child, Sleep and Well-being in Aotearoa New Zealand study when infants were approximately 12 weeks old.

Participants: 383 Māori and 702 non-Māori mother-infant dyads.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Skilled midwifery care for LGBTQIA+ people is a human right, however LGBTQIA+ people have been under-served in perinatal care by the privileging of cisgender heterosexual endosex women as recipients of care. The education of midwives and other professionals to provide LGBTQIA+ inclusive care is a critical component of wider strategies to address LGBTQIA+ discrimination in perinatal care. This paper responds to this challenge by discussing an innovative and holistic approach to introducing and embedding LGBTQIA+ health equity into one midwifery education programme in Aotearoa New Zealand.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pacific Peoples' Experiences of Cancer and Its Treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand Through Talanoa: A Qualitative Study of Samoan and Tongan Participants.

JCO Glob Oncol

January 2025

Auckland Regional Cancer and Blood Service, Te Toka Tumai Auckland, Health New Zealand, Te Whatu Ora, Auckland, New Zealand.

Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the experiences of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand with cancer treatment, focusing on the disparities they face compared to other ethnic groups.
  • Data were collected through interviews with Samoan and Tongan patients, revealing five significant themes: perceptions of cancer, the need for holistic support, importance of communication and trust, financial barriers to care, and the need for better representation in healthcare.
  • The findings emphasize the necessity for improved oncology care models that address the unique cultural and systemic challenges faced by Pacific communities to enhance access and support.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Inequitable Ethnic and Rural Variations in Mammographic Surveillance of Breast Cancer Survivors in Regional Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aust J Rural Health

February 2025

Department of General Surgery, Taranaki Base Hospital, Health New Zealand-Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Objective: New Zealand and international guidelines recommend surveillance mammography in breast cancer survivors. Ethnic breast cancer-specific diagnosis, treatment and survival inequities exist in Aotearoa New Zealand. Surveillance mammography uptake remains poorly studied internationally and has never been studied in AoNZ.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Integrating environmental physiotherapy into New Zealand undergraduate education: exploring current practice.

Front Public Health

January 2025

Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

This paper describes the integration of environmental physiotherapy education into the physiotherapy curriculum in a New Zealand university in response to the environmental physiotherapy agenda and the University of Otago Sustainability Framework. We describe and discuss three learning activities, the associated challenges and lessons learnt, and the current position. Given the encompassing nature of environmental and health interactions, we aimed for multilayer immersive experiences using a range of pedagogical approaches.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!