End-of-life care planning among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans: A qualitative analysis

End-of-life care planning among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans: A qualitative analysis
Journal of Gerontological Social Work; by Carson M. De Fries, My Ngoc To, Peiyuan Zhang, Emerson Ea, Fei Sun, Bei Wu, Sue E. Levkoff, Kaipeng Wang; 7/25
Racial and ethnic disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care planning persist, particularly due to limited knowledge of culturally sensitive practices among older Vietnamese and Filipino Americans – two of the largest Southeast Asian American subgroups. Thematic analysis ... revealed a shared belief in the importance of EOL care planning in both groups, driven by the desire to honor personal wishes, reduce burden on family, and minimize conflict. Participants also expressed distrust in healthcare systems and emphasized the influence of family dynamics on EOL decisions. Notable differences emerged: Vietnamese participants more often described cultural practices that encouraged open conversations about death, while Filipino participants cited cultural taboos that hindered such discussions.