Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Chinese American Patients

The Chinese American population is one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States, composed of similar to 5.4 million people, and represents similar to 5.5% of overseas Chinese populations. With an expected exponential population rise, Chinese American patients who experience serious illness or approach end-of-life (EOL) may find their cultural values influencing the medical care they receive. Palliative care clinicians must recognize diverse cultural beliefs and preferences of Chinese American patients and their families. In this study, we provide 10 cultural pearls to guide the provision of palliative and EOL care for Chinese American patients, including discussions of Chinese traditions, communication strategies for Chinese patients and families, advance care planning, and EOL care beliefs.