Chinese immigrants' experiences of the death and dying of a loved one : educational implications for developing culturally sensitive care in the Canadian context

This qualitative inquiry explores Chinese Canadians' experience of the death and dying of a family member in a Canadian cultural context. The participants of this study consisted of eight bereaved Chinese immigrants and four Chinese professionals whose work is closely related to the field of death and dying. Following a phenomenological research methodology, data was collected through in-depth interviews and participant observation. The narratives of the study participants were then analyzed. The results of the study identify the participants' four coping characteristics and also highlight their coping strategies and the rationale behind them. Analysis of the data leads to insights into the need for educational support to provide culturally sensitive care for dying Chinese patients and their families