As North America’s ethnic populations increase, health care and social service workers are recognizing that in order to provide culturally sensitive and effective treatment programs they must be more aware of the particular needs of their ethnic patients. This newly revised edition of Cross-Cultural Caring: A Handbook for Health Professionals describes Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian, Chinese, Japanese, Iranian, South Asian, and Central American ethno-cultural groups. It stresses the need to understand both the cultural beliefs and the daily life concerns facing immigrants, such as work, income, child-rearing, and aging, all of which impinge on health.

Reflecting the questions health professionals most often ask about immigrant groups, each chapter describes one ethno-cultural community, discussing such issues as childbirth, mental illness, dental care, hospitalization, and death, as well as home country culture, common reasons for emigrating, and challenges in adjusting to a new culture.

This new edition provides up-to-date statistics and fresh analysis, responding to changing trends in immigration. Additional material includes a new chapter addressing the special circumstances of refugees; short real-life stories of immigrants’ and refugees’ experiences; and a thorough, easy-to-use index.

Nancy Waxler-Morrison's profile page

Joan M. Anderson's profile page

Elizabeth Richardson's profile page

Natalie A. Chambers' profile page

Nancy Waxler-Morrison is Associate Professor, Emerita, in the School of Social Work and the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of British Columbia. Joan M. Anderson is the Elizabeth Kenny McCann Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of British Columbia and Research Director of the Culture, Gender and Health Research Unit. Elizabeth Richardson works as a social worker for the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. Natalie A. Chambers is Research and Development Officer at Okanagan Families Society, British Columbia.

Praise for the first edition:

I highly recommend this book as a teaching manual and encourage health care agencies to make copies available to staff. It promotes and encourages an approach to the delivery of health care that is culturally sensitive.

Gerontology Update

Concise, well-written, informative, and relevant to practice in Canada. All sections provide a useful overview of historical experiences, adjustment styles, preferred values, and typical ways of thinking.

Canadian Journal of Public Health

An extremely practical handbook on diverse aspects of cross-cultural care … The terminology used in this text makes it readily understandable and easy yet interesting reading.

Canadian Ethnic Studies