Te Matahouroa: a feasibility trial combining Rongoa Maori and Western medicine in a surgical outpatient setting.

AIM: This feasibility study was undertaken to implement and assess a Rongoa Maori (traditional Maori healing)/Western medicine collaboration model in a general surgical outpatient setting. METHODS: Six patients were recruited and consulted with both a Rongoa Maori practitioner and a Western trained surgeon three times in 6 months. Appointments were an average of 45 minutes duration, patient whanau (family) were welcome and kai (food) was provided as a culturally appropriate custom. Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients, whanau and practitioners after the final appointment with practitioners. The data were thematically analysed and reviewed by the team researchers. RESULTS: Seven themes were identified from the successful collaboration: benefits of Rongoa/medical collaboration to participants; the high value of healer/doctor relationships with participants; participants' experiences of healer/doctor collaboration; healer/doctor perceptions of the Rongoa/medical collaboration process; paying attention to the ecosystem of each participant; unanimous support for Rongoa/medical collaboration to be implemented in the health system; suggestions for Rongoa/medical collaboration improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Many challenges remain, but collaboration between Rongoa Maori healing and Western health professionals in public hospitals is not only possible, but also meets the need for patient-centred care.

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

BACKGROUND: Rongoa Maori is the traditional form of healing for Maori. 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 Rongoa Maori into the hospital system. METHODS: An electronic survey was circulated to approximately 6,000 employees of the WDHB. Responders were asked questions pertaining to Rongoa Maori and issues relating to potential implementation of a Rongoa Maori 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% Maori and 66% worked as medical practitioners or nurses. Forty-six percent were familiar with Rongoa Maori, and 16% had used Rongoa Maori on themselves or whanau. About 32% of responders felt that Rongoa Maori should be available to patients and staff and that this service should be provided by a specially trained Rongoa Maori practitioners or WDHB staff member. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of WDHB staff, who responded to the survey, had a knowledge of Rongoa Maori 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 Rongoa Maori collaboration with medical treatment.