title: The role and potential of community-based cancer care for Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the contribution to cancer care and prevention by Māori health provider organisations (MHPs) in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide postal survey of all MHPs (n=253) was undertaken in 2011. The response rate was 55%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that MHPs are delivering a wide range of programmes including cancer prevention services focussed on health promotion, advocacy, information and support. MHPs identified financial hardship, transport difficulties, and lack of information as the greatest barriers to cancer care. Culturally safe care by mainstream providers would improve cancer service provision overall. The importance of trust and long-term relationships, with a focus on families rather than individual-based care, was highlighted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings could lead to substantial improvements in quality of life for Māori cancer patients. This is the first study to show how indigenous health providers contribute to cancer care and prevention in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington Campus, PO Box 756, Wellington 6140. t.m.slater@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matheson
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goodyer
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holdaway
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ellison-Loschmann
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D006293:Health Promotion; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D009520:New Zealand; D010166:Palliative Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation