Shirley Simmonds, Ria Earp, Puhiwahine Tibble, Elizabeth Johnston Taylor
Ma¯ori have the right to high-quality, appropriate care in all health settings. This study aimed to determine the perceptions and preferences of Ma¯ori for end-of-life care in a hospice. A Kaupapa Ma¯ori approach to research shaped this qualitative pilot study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with five elders fromMa¯ori communities and two focus groups with seven family members of Ma¯ori patients who had recently received hospice care. Thematic analysis identified (1) that participants perceived hospice as like a hospital, a place where people died, (2) what they appreciated and wanted from ospice, such as family-centred endof- life care and respect for Ma¯ori cultural practices, (3) what they perceived as problems and barriers to receiving hospice care, and (4) their potential solutions to these problems, such as community information seminars about the breadth of hospice services. These findings have implications for how Aotearoa/New Zealand hospices can ensure appropriate care for Ma¯ori patients and their families, as well as for clinicians and other hospice staffwho aim to provide culturally sensitive care.
