The Choosing Wisely campaign and shared decision-making with Maori

AIMS: Choosing Wisely seeks to prevent harm by reducing the number of unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures, and by promoting shared decision-making. This article scopes perspectives of Maori patients/consumers and Maori health practitioners around Choosing Wisely and explores shared decision-making between Maori and their medical practitioners. METHODS: Eight Maori consumers and seven Maori health practitioners participated in a qualitative, semi-structured, in-depth interview study with an inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participant feedback spanned issues from lack of Maori participation in programme governance through to practical issues like meaningful and literacy-appropriate health messaging, traversing consumer, practitioner, organisational and health-system aspects. Feedback further focused on the patient having trust in the practitioner, a sense of autonomy and the availability of advocacy and support in the consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a late campaign collaboration with Maori, Choosing Wisely New Zealand is the first of the international programmes to acknowledge the possibility that their initiative might increase inequity for Indigenous populations. This enquiry highlights the need to consult Maori early and to infuse Treaty principles and Maori knowledge and custom at every stage of the programme.