The needs of Pacific families affected by age-related cognitive impairment in New Zealand: interviews with providers from health-care organisations
Vanda Symon 1 3 , Rosalina Richards 1 , Pauline Norris 1 , Talai Mapusua 1 , Leigh Hale 21 Va’a o Tautai – The Centre for Pacific Health, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
2 School of Physiotherapy, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
3 Corresponding author. Email: vanda.symon@otago.ac.nz
Journal of Primary Health Care 13(4) 317-322 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC21082
Published: 23 December 2021
Journal Compilation © Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners 2021 This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pacific populations in New Zealand are aging, but little is known in the health-care environment about their experiences with cognitive impairment.
AIM: The aim was to explore the needs of Pacific peoples affected by age-related cognitive decline from the perspectives of health-care providers.
METHODS: Six health-care service providers from organisations focused on Pacific patients were interviewed to determine services available to aged Pacific peoples, access, and whether they met Pacific people’s needs.
RESULTS: Three areas of concern were identified by all participants: access to services; getting a diagnosis; and communication and language. Many experienced a lack of information and poor access to services. Diagnosis of cognitive impairment was frequently made difficult by inconsistent access to general practitioners in lower socio-economic areas. Communication was hindered by poor access to information in Pacific languages.
DISCUSSION: Common themes noted by all participating health-care providers indicated the needs of aged Pacific people experiencing cognitive decline were often not being met.
KEYwords: Dementia; cognitive impairment; Pacific peoples; access to services; equity; Health Services Research.
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