Transcultural nursing study of emic and etic care in the home

This study describes 18 informants' experiences with home care by multidisciplinary health care providers using participant observation as research methodology. Study findings support the salience of culture as the context for interpreting, valuing, and defining satisfaction with care. In contrast to hospital care, home care was perceived by informants as enhancing their ability to remain in their valued setting, supportive of their restorative and health maintenance needs. In particular, all informants viewed their home as the milieu that allows for continuity of their lifestyles, family relationships, and cultural values.