title: Negotiation, Mediation and Communication between Cultures: End-of-Life Care for South Asian Immigrants in Canada from the Perspective of Family Caregivers.
abstract: In the present study, we explored family caregivers' experiences in providing end-of-life care for terminally ill South Asian immigrants. We employed qualitative methods and. in-depth interviews were conducted with seven family caregivers living in Nova Scotia, Canada. Interview data were validated, coded and organized for themes. Three major themes identified in the data illustrated (a) how South Asian caregivers experienced clashes between biomedical and ethno-cultural realms of care that led to cultural insensitivity, (b) how family members acted as mediators, and (c) how communication issues that challenged cultural sensitivity were handled. Findings provide directions for culturally sensitive end-of-life care planning.
authors.affiliation: a Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Centre for Clinical Research , Halifax , Nova Scotia , Canada.
authors.forename: Swarna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weerasinghe
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine, Division of Community Health and Humanities , Memorial University of Newfoundland , St. John's , Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maddalena
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D017028:Caregivers; D003142:Communication; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003469:Culture; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating; D009674:Nova Scotia; D013727:Terminal Care
keywords: South Asian immigrants; cultural beliefs; cultural sensitivity; end-of-life care; family caregivers