title: Care-giving as a Canadian-Vietnamese tradition: 'it's like eating, you just do it'.
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine how Vietnamese family caregivers (FCGs) perceive, manage and experience end-of-life care-giving for seriously ill family members. Using an instrumental case study design, this longitudinal qualitative research employed the use of cultural brokers/language interpreters to help ensure that the research was conducted in a culturally-appropriate manner. Participants (n = 18) discussed their experiences of care-giving within the context of a traditional cultural framework, which was found to influence their motivations and approaches to care-giving, as well as their propensities towards the use of various supports and services. The study was carried out in southern Ontario, Canada, and participants were providing home-based care-giving in the community. Data were collected throughout 2010 and 2011. The ways in which care-giving was perceived and expressed are reflected in three themes: (i) Natural: identity and care work; (ii) Intentional: whole-person care; and (iii) Intensive: standards, struggle and the context of care. This research confirms the need for culturally-appropriate services and supports while illustrating that Vietnamese FCGs not only value, but are also likely to use healthcare and social services if they are language-accessible, built on trust and demonstrate respect for their values as individuals, regardless of culture.
authors.affiliation: Wilfred Laurier University-Brantford, Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013727:Terminal Care; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Vietnamese; culture; end-of-life family caregivers; health geography; qualitative research