Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104537

Donna-Marie Palakiko, RN, MS, Ke Ola Mamo, A Native Hawaiian Health Care System-Oahu, 1505 Dillingham Boulevard, Room 205, Honolulu, HI 96817, (808) 848-8000, dpalakiko@keolamamo.org and Alice Tse, PhD, APRN, Department of Pediatrics, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1319 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96826.

Native Hawaiian teachings explain that health is maintaining balance (pono). Balance is the connection that the kanaka maoli (man) have with the land (aina), with their neighbors, and with God (akua). This connection is explained through traditional stories (mo`olelo) and wise sayings (`olelo no`eau).

In 2002, the Family Perspectives of Asthma Project conducted a qualitative research study to identify the barriers and facilitators associated with asthma management among the Native Hawaiian communities.

In depth semi structure interviews were conducted with Native Hawaiian families, practitioners (traditional and western), and community members. Family interviews lasted 60-90 minutes and practitioners and community members lasted 30-45 minutes. Family interviews focused on family impact (perceptions of barriers and facilitators to asthma management, care giving demands, time and difficulty associated with asthma management, impact on the family, and cultural perception of the child's asthma status), and impact on the child (behavior, self esteem and health). Practitioner and Community Member interviews paralleled the major concepts of the family interview.

Preliminary Findings suggest that asthma management differ between rural and urban settings; the worldview impacts the care and treatment of the child; and families seek out traditional practitioners as a last resort.

Decreasing barriers associated with asthma management is imperative to the success of the client's health. One step to decreasing these barriers may be to increase practitioner awareness on the Native Hawaiian worldview.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the Native Hawaiian worldview on health
• Discuss allopathic and traditional healing modalities
• Identify the barriers to accessing treatment

Keywords: Barriers to Care, Native Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.