Background: Australia is a multicultural country that consists of a diverse population. It can be difficult to provide equal healthcare services across all ethnicities due to cultural disparities. This is seen amongst Australian Chinese to under-utilize healthcare services such as palliative care.Objective: This study aimed to explore the Australian Chinese's understanding of palliative care service and on their end-of-life care preferences so that suitable support and services that are culturally appropriate could be delivered to them. Methods: Participants were recruited from two Chinese cancer support group organizations in Sydney to complete a self-reported questionnaire on their understanding of palliative and end-of-life care preferences. 41 Chinese participants were recruited from four support group sessions.Results: Seven themes were explored. The majority of participants understood the role of palliative care and would accept the service. They favored being informed about the nature of their condition even during advanced stages. Many preferred making decisions for their own treatment but highly valued the advice from doctors and family members. Most participants were open to discuss issues related to death and dying and the need for interpreter services was highlighted. They viewed that nutrition and hydration as necessity during end-of-life and many believed in a combined regimen of western and alternative therapy to treat their condition. Conclusion:This study shows that Australian Chinese understand the role of palliative care. Changes in perception in areas such as disclosure of the truth of a disease and openness in discussing issues related to death and dying are highlighted. Traditional Chinese values still play a role in shaping their attitudes regarding decision-making and hydration and nutrition during end-of-life care. Further research to explore the generalisability of these results is warranted.
Introduction: Lack of knowledge of end-of-life care pathway (EOLCP) and misconceptions about opioid use are detrimental to providing quality care to patients with life-limiting diseases. This study aims to use the mixed-method to assess the level of specialty trainees' perceptions regarding EOLCP and symptom management in the Australian context. Methods: A total of 31 accredited college trainees in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine, anaesthesia as well as physician trainees who had been rotated to palliative care were recruited for the questionnaire. A total of 12 subjects were recruited for the individual interview.Results and Discussion: Both quantitative and qualitative data suggested that participants showed a basic understanding of EOLCP and symptom control. Most participants were generally comfortable with opioid use. They were able to recognize the priorities of end-oflife care and common opioid-related side effects. However, additional education on probability of serious side effects related to opioids, opioid rotation, opioid dosage calculation and prophylactic medications, were suggested. Large-scale studies should be conducted to explore the adequacy of end-of-life care education within specific specialty, other potential factors on practice of EOLCP and opioid use, as well as more effective education strategies in the Australian context. Methods Selection and description of participantsThis was a single hospital-based pilot study at Liverpool hospital,
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