Digital story-telling research methods: Supporting the reclamation and retention of indigenous end-of-life care customs in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Information about traditional end-of-life care customs was gathered from Māori New Zealanders. How health and palliative care services helped or hindered families to use their customs within different health care settings was also examined. The use of the digital story-telling method to create personalised short videos is reported on in this paper. Kaupapa Māori Research and social constructivist methods were employed to conduct face-to-face interviews with 61 Māori families (including someone with a life limiting illness), plant medicine healers, spiritual practitioners and health and palliative care providers. Of these, sixteen family representatives participated in a digital story telling workshop. A Kaupapa Māori thematic analysis confirmed earlier findings that the digital storytelling method was a useful technique to record Māori traditional caregiving customs. Subject material aligned with four dominant themes; (1) ‘whānau manaaki’, where the mana (value, prestige, authority) of family was given visibility and was celebrated; (2) the ‘importance of wairuatanga’ provided insight into the place of Māori spirituality, (3) the ‘importance of rongoā rākau’ highlighted the role of traditional plant medicines; and (4) the ‘cultural support provided by health professionals’ reflected the care values health and palliative Q3 care professionals should ideally adopt.