Due to cultural barriers such as death taboos and religious practices, ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong rarely receive specialized palliative care or have chances to discuss advance directives (AD). Palliative care aims at relieving the suffering and maximizing the quality of life of dying patients, and that of their families whereas AD refers to a document that helps family members and healthcare professionals make informed decisions for patients when they can no longer make decisions themselves. A lack of information on palliative care or inadequate communication between patients and health professionals may cause patients to receive unwanted or expensive medical interventions.

To reduce inequalities in palliative care services, language-specific health manuals, community roadshows, and health talks will be delivered to South Asian ethnic minority groups. Phase 1 of the proposed project will focus on the development of an English-language health manual on palliative care and its cultural adaptation to a version for South Asian communities, including English-speaking Indian, Nepalese and Pakistani communities in Hong Kong. Phase 2 will involve training ethnic minority language-speaking community volunteers to deliver radio talk shows; conduct community roadshows, exhibitions, and health talks; and disseminate the translated health manual (hard copy and e-copy) to South Asian people in Hong Kong.

Ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong will be educated about palliative care and ADs, such that they will develop positive attitudes toward palliative care and ADs; Policymakers may find this study as a foundation for the development of policies on palliative care and AD with a focus on the cultural needs of ethnic minority groups; Healthcare providers can gain access to the e-version of the culturally and language-adapted health manual through websites.

• South Asian ethnic minority groups in Hong Kong


• Policymakers in Hong Kong


• Practicing palliative care doctors, nurses, and social workers in Hong Kong

2022

Ethnic Minorities, Well-being