Physician Perspectives on Enhancing Culturally Sensitive Care for Ethnic Chinese Patients: A Mixed Methods Study

Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare in the United States have been well described. Despite the growing presence of Chinese patients in the U.S. healthcare system, medical education largely lacks formal training in Chinese cultural sensitivity and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This study aims to explore physician experiences and identify strategies for delivering elucidate themes in physician experiences and identify strategies for delivering culturally sensitive, equitable care to ethnically Chinese patients living in America.

A qualitative study was conducted using purposive and snowball sampling, with semi-structured interviews with 7 academic and 12 community physicians in Southern California who met the following criteria: (1) general practice or community physicians with >25% of their patient population being ethnically Chinese or (2) specialists working with >10% ethnically Chinese patients at any of their medical practices.

Physicians reported significant cultural differences in patient-provider relationships, family involvement in medical decision-making, communication styles, perceptions of biomedical and integrative therapies, and attitudes toward sensitive health topics. A majority of participants observed that many ethnic Chinese patients use TCM alongside conventional treatments but often do not disclose this to their physicians. Recommendations for improving culturally sensitive care included increasing the availability of Chinese-speaking providers, incorporating structured exposure to ethnic Chinese patients in medical training, and offering formal education on Chinese language, health beliefs, and TCM principles for healthcare professionals.

Physicians highlighted the need for systems-level, educational, and individual-level interventions to mitigate health disparities in Chinese American communities. Integrating physician perspectives on cultural health practices into medical education and clinical training may enhance patient trust, improve adherence to treatment, and bridge gaps in culturally sensitive care for ethnically Chinese patients in the United States. Furthermore, acknowledging and incorporating TCM in patient-centered care could foster a more holistic and culturally congruent healthcare approach.