Empowering Chinese Cancer Patients: Taking Culture into Account

Many Chinese cancer patients encounter a high degree of anxiety, but lack the vocabulary to express themselves emotionally. This is an attempt to develop a culturally sensitive psycho-social intervention for Chinese cancer patients in Hong Kong. A seven-phase model of emotional responses to cancer was developed from interviews with patients and focus group discussions with professionals. Based on an understanding of the local culture and what works best for the patients, the intervention focus was on empowering cancer patients to take charge of their health, their mood and their own lives. The framework of intervention with detailed intervention theories and skills are proposed.