In what is believed to be a first for New Zealand, researchers are about to begin a bicultural study aimed at creating a national action plan for spiritual care in the health system, using indigenous approaches.
Study co-leader and University of Otago preventive and social medicine researcher Associate Prof Richard Egan said little was known about spiritual care in New Zealand healthcare.
"Spirituality is important for many people, especially in times of serious illness or dying, yet it receives little attention in policy formation, strategic planning, and healthcare practice.
"We know spiritual care improves healthcare experiences and outcomes, but we lack comprehensive knowledge about spiritual care needs in New Zealand."
The study has been granted $1.4million in the latest Health Research Council funding round, and aims to develop national recommendations and an action plan for spiritual care.
Assoc Prof Egan said it would enable the research team to increase knowledge about the present state of spiritual care, needs and aspirations of the population, and improve spiritual care for all those in the healthcare system.
"For Māori, wairua or spirituality is often considered ‘the most essential requirement for health’, and this research will work in a bicultural way to better understand Māori spiritual care needs in a system that is inequitable based on current outcomes."
Assoc Prof Egan was one of 15 Otago researchers to receive funding from the Health Research Council, totalling more than $4.5 million.
Thirteen other Otago researchers were also awarded funding from the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, totalling more than $1.2 million.
One recipient, social anthropologist Dr Molly George, received $98,142 which she aimed to use to study "largely untapped data" which could reduce the struggles that former refugees faced dealing with New Zealand’s health system.
Dr George and her colleagues spent the past four years gathering stories from former refugees as they navigated New Zealand’s health system.
"Our system is often radically different to what they have experienced previously, and their struggles and dissatisfaction are significant.
"This funding provides a rare opportunity to use this data and work with others to implement some real changes and improvements for this vulnerable population."
She said her team’s findings would be given to New Zealand health providers to gather feedback and input, before they worked with those providers on possible interventions to improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for former refugees.
