Indigenous ethnic minorities and palliative care: exploring the views of Irish Travellers and palliative care staff.

Abstract

Indigenous people are among the ethnic minorities who encounter palliative care services. This research shows that Irish Travellers have little experience of specialist palliative care and that specialist palliative care providers have little knowledge or experience of Irish Travellers. Characteristics of Irish Travellers culture including the importance of hope, avoidance of open acknowledgment of death, the importance of family and the avoidance of the place of death (including moving away or burning caravans where death has occurred) challenge the provision of specialist palliative care. Individualisation of patient care, a feature of specialist palliative care can help staff provide appropriate care.