Conceptualising relational care from an Indigenous Māori perspective: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To identify and describe the attributes of relational care from an Indigenous Māori healthcare consumer perspective.

Data sources: CINAHL Plus, Ovid MEDLINE, ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health, Scopus, New Zealand Index, the Ministry of Health Library, New Zealand Research and Google Scholar were searched between 23 and 30 May 2022.

Methods: This scoping review used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, thematic analysis and the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendations framework for the synthesis of the findings.

Results: A total of 1449 records were identified, and 10 sources were selected for final review. We identified five relational attributes that were most important to Māori: (1) the expressive behaviours and characteristics of healthcare professionals (HCPs), (2) communication to facilitate the healthcare partnership, (3) appreciating differing worldviews, (4) the context in which healthcare is delivered and (5) whanaungatanga (meaningful relationships).

Conclusion: The relational attributes identified are inextricably linked. Connecting with HCPs and developing a therapeutic relationship is fundamental to improving consumer experience and engagement with mainstream healthcare services. Whanaungatanga is fundamental to meaningful engagements with HCPs. Future research should explore how relational care is practiced in acute care settings when clinician-consumer interactions are time-limited, examine how the health system influences the capacity for relational care and how Indigenous and Western paradigms can co-exist in healthcare.

Implications: This scoping review can inform future projects addressing health equity for Indigenous communities by creating environments that prioritise culturally safe relational care and value Indigenous knowledge systems.

Reporting method: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist.

No patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.

Keywords: Māori health; Mātauranga Māori; decolonising healthcare; models of care; nursing; relational care; traditional knowledge.