‘Talanoa’: A Pacific research methodology to explore diabetes amongst Australian Pacific Island women

Objectives: Australian Pacific Island (API) women face poorer health outcomes from diabetes-related conditions yet there is limited information on the use of Pacific methodologies, particularly in the Australian context. The aim of this paper is to present a Pasifika Diabetes Health Research study that employed the use of Pacific methodology,talanoa in a community based-participatory action research (CBPAR) to explore lived experiences of API women with type 2 diabetes.Methodology: The research arose from the API women in South-East Queensland who as co-researchers informed the community-based participatory research process using talanoa methodology. Talanoa is a conversational process used daily by Pacific peoples and involves sharing of stories and development of knowledge. It prioritizes Pacific ways of communicating and is culturally respectful and cooperative. Talanoa methodology guided the development of the study design, diabetes research protocols, community engagement processes, data collection, analyses and community action research outcomes. The talanoa processes were instrumental in empowering as well as promoting awareness and education in diabetes prevention and management for API women.Theory: This study was framed using community based-participatory action research and talanoa methodology underpinned by Indigenous Pacific values, worldviews and knowledge systems. The API women informed each steps of the CBPAR cycle from conception to reporting. Each step of research process was deconstructed using talanoa as the ‘lens’ and involved negotiations, reflections and interpretations.Summary results and conclusion: This paper highlights talanoa methodology is culturally appropriate for community-based health research with Australian Pacific women and can be used as a useful tool in promoting diabetes prevention and management for Pacific communities in Australia. It provides a culturally appropriate research methodology framework and may have significance for health professionals and researchers to consider when working and researching with Pacific peoples particularly in attempting to improve health outcomes of Pacific peoples in Australia as well as internationally.SummaryAustralian Pacific Island (API) women face poorer health outcomes from diabetes-related condition. Yet there is very little information on the use of Pacific methodologies in Australia. This paper explores talanoa, a Pacific methodology in a community-based participatory study to understand lived experiences of API women with type 2 diabetes. Talanoa is a conversational process used daily by Pacific peoples. It prioritises Pacific ways of communicating and is culturally prescribed, cooperative and respectful. Talanoa methodology is culturally appropriate for community-based research with API women. It is a useful tool for promoting diabetes prevention and management in Australian Pacific communities and internationally