Conclusion

In view of the complexity of social and cultural factors, it would be advisable that health practitioners

• Treat each person as an individual with a unique blend of many influences and circumstances.
• Be sensitive to families’ wishes, gestures and feelings.
• Ask the family member(s) about their understanding and views related to their child’s illness or treatment.
• Encourage feedback from families about how they feel about existing services, and respect those feelings while remaining client focused, even if there is a language barrier or disagreement.
• Avoid making broad generalizations or assumptions about individuals based on a superficial knowledge of their social or cultural background. People from Asian countries differ in their cultural backgrounds, values and beliefs. It is advisable to view Asians as a diverse group.