What is our research about?

Opioids are commonly used in pain relief for chronic non-cancer pain. Although opioids might be beneficial in the short-term, long-term use risks include dependency, reduced function, and early mortality. Māori adults have the highest rates of strong (prescription) opioid use suggesting inequities associated with opioid use. Clinical guidelines recommend opioid tapering (i.e., from gradual reduction to cessation). However, opioid tapering is extremely challenging for both patients and clinicians.

With significant inequities for Māori, culturally responsive strategies from a te ao Māori (Māori worldview) are urgently needed. Pūrākau (a form of Māori narrative) are powerful tools that can influence behaviour. The need for whānau stories has been informed from a previous HRC project to develop a digital pain management programme (iSelf-help). Whānau enjoyed sharing their experiences of pain management for other whānau via short video stories. Digital story-telling interventions (i.e. video stories) have been previously culturally adapted for Māori.

Thus, stories of people with chronic pain who have successfully tapered their opioid medication may be powerful tools to motivate others to begin and persist with opioid reduction. With no primary research in AoNZ on opioid tapering, urgent attention is needed for effective, culturally sensitive interventions.