“I would like to be heard.” Communicating with Singaporean Chinese patients with dementia: A focused ethnography study

Introduction: Although first-generation Singaporean Chinese were mainly immigrants from Mainland China, the communication patterns of Singaporean Chinese in the present-day context differs from Mainland Chinese. This difference could be attributed to the subculture but is not conclusive. This study aimed to explore the experiences of nursing staff communicating with Singaporean Chinese with dementia in Singapore. Method: A focused ethnographic study was conducted in a long-term care setting for people with dementia, where data were obtained using nonparticipant observations and semistructured interviews. Data analyses were conducted using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Results: Nineteen nursing staff were interviewed. The central theme of “embracing diversity and accepting differences” was supported by three subthemes: acknowledging cultural differences, understanding the patients, and overcoming communicative challenges. Conclusions: This study highlighted the need for nurses to understand cultural characteristics among Singaporean Chinese with dementia especially on emotional expressions when they are not understood by others.