Lay summary
Pasifika peoples are hospitalised with higher levels of morbidity than their non-Pacific counterparts – requiring intensive medical and surgical intervention with prolonged admission times. There has been minimal academic and clinical research attention on the impacts of hospitalisation on the wellbeing and psychological health needs of Pasifika peoples in this context. The proposed mixed-methods study seeks to use Vā (dynamic and relational spaces) as a lens to explore organisational, systematic, and interpersonal factors which facilitate and hinder wellbeing in this setting and following discharge. As a Samoan senior health psychologist working at Middlemore Hospital, I am passionate about Pasifika mental health in healthcare spaces and have been involved in teaching and cultural supervision/advisory roles to support training professionals and staff when working with our Pasifika patients and families. The results will inform the development of interventions to improve recognition and responsiveness to Pasifika wellbeing needs during and following hospital admission.