Vietnamese clinicians' perspectives on the ethical issues of addressing culturally-based spiritual needs

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the Vietnamese clinicians' perspectives on ethics and ethical standards in addressing spiritual needs presented by their Vietnamese clients. The following were explored in three focus groups: (a) culturally-based spiritual practices used among Vietnamese clients; (b) ethical dilemmas encountered when using spiritual practices in clinical settings; and (c) recommendations on how to manage the ethical dilemmas based on the study participants' experiences. The results of the study demonstrated that the Vietnamese clinicians encountered many Vietnamese clients who have addressed culturally-based spiritual needs in clinical settings and that the Vietnamese clinicians struggled with multiple ethical dilemmas when responding to the clients' needs. Examples of spiritual practices, ethical dilemmas, and recommendations were documented to be used for better preparing culturally and spiritually responsive clinicians.