title: Caring for dying cancer patients in the Chinese cultural context: A qualitative study from the perspectives of physicians and nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of Chinese physicians and nurses who care for dying cancer patients in their practical work.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Fifteen physicians and 22 nurses were recruited from a cancer center in mainland China. The data were analyzed by qualitative thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disclosure of information on death and cancer to dying cancer patients is taboo in traditional Chinese culture, which greatly decreases the physicians' and nurses' effective communication with dying patients in end-of-life (EOL) care. Both physicians and nurses described strong ambitions to give dying cancer patients high-quality care, and they emphasized the importance of maintaining dying patients' hopes in the death-denying cultural context. However, the nurses were more concerned with dying patients' physical comfort and wish fulfillment, while the physicians placed greatest emphasis on patients' rights and symptom management. Both physicians and nurses suffered whilst also benefitting from taking care of dying patients which helped with their personal growth and allowed greater insight into themselves and their clinical practice. Our results also indicated that Chinese physicians and nurses require improved methods of communication on EOL care, as well as needing more support to provide quality EOL care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chinese physicians and nurses experience a challenge when caring for dying cancer patients in the Chinese cultural context. Flexible and specific education and training in EOL cancer care are required to meet the needs of Chinese physicians and nurses at the cancer center studied.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: dfq3090@126.com.
authors.forename: Fengqi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ruishuang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xuelei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hongyuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013727:Terminal Care; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer; Death; Dying; End-of-life; Experience; Nurses; Physicians; Qualitative research