The findings of the present study suggest that Chinese people's well-being is significantly determined by a harmonious relationship with others in the social and cultural context. Psychotherapy emphasizing an individual's growth and autonomy may ignore the importance of maintaining interpersonal harmony in Chinese culture. The results of this study contribute to the essential knowledge about culturally sensitive nursing practices. An understanding of patient suffering that is shaped by traditional cultural values helps nurses communicate empathy in a culturally sensitive manner to facilitate the therapeutic relationship and clinical outcomes.

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Nurses who learn to participate in suffering assessment are better able to understand spiritual needs of cancer patients. Cancer patients' views on the change mechanism in healing processes could provide essential information for nurses in developing an effective intervention programme. If nurses consider cultural factors that shape patients' experiences of spiritual suffering and the healing process, they could learn how to meet the needs of patients better from different cultural backgrounds.

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