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. 2025 May 4;24(1):124.
doi: 10.1186/s12904-025-01759-6.

Managing cultural diversity in end-of-life care: a qualitative study

María José Cáceres-Titos  1 , Juan Miguel Porras-Santana #  2 , María R Cabillas-Romero #  3 , E Begoña García-Navarro #  2   4
Affiliations

Managing cultural diversity in end-of-life care: a qualitative study

María José Cáceres-Titos et al. BMC Palliat Care. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: In an increasingly globalized world, multiculturalism has transformed healthcare settings, making cultural diversity an essential component of care. In end-of-life processes, this context presents unique challenges, where care extends beyond clinical skills to involve complex, sensitive, and compassionate human interactions.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the difficulties perceived by nursing professionals in palliative care when caring for culturally diverse patients.

Design: The study employed an exploratory qualitative design with a phenomenological approach to examine professional experiences.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture detailed narratives from 11 purposely selected participants, providing a rich understanding of their lived experiences as nursing professionals. The study adhered to the COREQ guidelines (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies).

Results: The analysis identified five main themes, including linguistic and communicative barriers that hinder trust-building between patients, families, and professionals. Cultural differences in beliefs, rituals, and expectations surrounding death were also noted. Challenges related to support networks, professional profiles, and workplace settings-such as insufficient training in cultural competence and the emotional impact of caring for culturally diverse patients at the end of life-were found to influence the quality of care provided.

Conclusions: In an increasingly multicultural world, end-of-life care should reflect the diversity it encompasses. Considering the perspectives of healthcare professionals caring for culturally diverse patients enhances the quality of care for both professionals and patients during their final moments, fostering a more inclusive and humanized care environment.

Keywords: Barriers; Cultural care; End-of-life; Qualitative design; Transcultural nursing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study followed the international ethical recommendations set out in the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants received an information sheet with relevant details about the study, along with a consent form, which they signed to confirm their voluntary participation. All personal information provided was stored in a way that complied with the legal requirements for the protection of personal data and the guarantee of digital rights (Organic Law 15/1999 of 13 December 1999 and Organic Law 3/2018 of 5 December 2018). This project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Andalusian Government (PEIBA) with the code Acomp_findevida/23. Consent for publication: Participants provided informed consent for publication of the quotes. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Themes and subthemes representing perceived difficulties related to caring for culturally deverse patients at the end of life. Source: Own elaboration
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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