Interdisciplinary Researcher, University Lecturer, and Former Innovation Officer. Research focuses on Diversity, Health and health care, Chinese overseas, and Innovation and Technology. Lectures given include Health in Society, Multicultural Society, and Youth and Generation Study .
Chinese are less likely to use mental health care than other ethnic groups in the Netherlands, ye... more Chinese are less likely to use mental health care than other ethnic groups in the Netherlands, yet present more serious symptoms at the first consultation. However, the reason for these differences is unknown because of the scarcity of
research. This doctoral research sets out to shed light on mental health care utilisation among this group. It further examines the adequacy of Dutch mental health care services for them.
Results show that the Chinese studied regarded Dutch health care as their primary method of managing general and mental health problems. The beliefs they expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in
the West in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services. Although cultural differences were observed which might create barriers to mutual understanding between health professionals and Chinese care users, they were not such as to prevent Chinese from accepting and benefiting from Dutch health care. The results of this research suggest that the main barriers have to do with practical factors, e.g. low Dutch proficiency, lack of
knowledge of the health system, or language and communication problems. Other barriers include lack of cultural sensitivity among professionals and the failure of
the health system to take steps to overcome these problems.
The study also showed that Chinese in the Netherlands form a heterogeneous group in terms of their origins, migration patterns, socio-economic status and levels of integration. Service providers and policy makers should take the
diversity of the Chinese group into account and pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, knowledge of the health care system, attitudes of professionals and discrimination.
‘Stil Verdriet’ is de eerste publicatie in de Mikado Wegwijzers. Deze gaat over de meer dan 100.0... more ‘Stil Verdriet’ is de eerste publicatie in de Mikado Wegwijzers. Deze gaat over de meer dan 100.000 Chinese migranten en bevat praktische informatie voor professionals over cultuur, omgangsvormen, ziektebeleving en zorg- en verwijsmogelijkheden. Hoewel het accent op de geestelijke gezondheidszorg ligt, is de Wegwijzer ook zeer bruikbaar voor andere zorgterreinen.
It is a fortune to be able to express my multi-passionate understanding of our world on a profess... more It is a fortune to be able to express my multi-passionate understanding of our world on a professional and holistic level, as a scientist, an educationalist, a public speaker, a policy advisor, and even as a diplomat. My aspiration is to translate, integrate, and communicate knowledge with individuals and with the public. I believe, by sharing mindfulness and exchanging critical insights, we advance the understanding of our living and further inspire our lives.
The main goal for this research is to study the practice condition of public relations in modern ... more The main goal for this research is to study the practice condition of public relations in modern hospitals. In the thesis, researchers tried to analyze the public programs and executions of the hospital in the case, and to come up with suggestion for PR. This research follows the case methods, using diagnostic research on the hospital. The research includes two parts. First, interviews with the executives of the hospital in order to understand the background, current situation of PR, and the level of understanding of PR by the executives of the hospital. Second, taking polls from the clients to know the background, originality and other information from the case hospital. The following are the conclusions draw from the interviews, the poll and the documentation: Diagnostic results: 1.The executives related to PR still lacks proper knowledge of PR. 2.The organization lacks people with specialty to make out the planing and management of PR. 3.Employees do not following hospital's ...
This is a chapter of a official report presents the first national picture of the position of the... more This is a chapter of a official report presents the first national picture of the position of the Chinese community in the Netherlands. The report devotes attention among other things to their position in education, on the labour market and on the housing market. It also describes their proficiency in the Dutch language, their health status, interethnic contacts and ties to both the Netherlands and their own ethnic group. This chapter provides an overview of the 100-year history of Chinese in the Netherlands.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to test the widely held assumption that underutilisation ... more Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to test the widely held assumption that underutilisation of mental health services by Chinese living in western countries is due to their different beliefs regarding mental illness.
Design/methodology/approach
– Qualitative data were analysed from in-depth interviews with 23 Chinese respondents, who gave a total of 30 accounts of a Chinese person they knew who had experienced mental health problems in the Netherlands. Analysis focused on the way these problems were described and explained, as well as the kinds of help regarded as appropriate.
Findings
– The beliefs expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in the west in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services.
Research limitations/implications
– The study was exploratory and the limited sample size did not make it possible to analyse sources of variation in beliefs. Generalisation to other countries would need to take into account the specific characteristics of the Chinese population in those countries.
Practical implications
– Simply knowing that a person is of Chinese origin is likely to tell us little about their beliefs concerning mental health. Moreover, traditional Chinese beliefs are not necessarily incompatible with western ones. Service providers should pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, entitlement to care, knowledge of how the health system works and discrimination.
Originality/value
– The paper challenges widely held notions about ethnic Chinese that are seldom empirically tested. It is the first study of its kind in the Netherlands.
This study examines utilisation of the Dutch health care system by Chinese people in the Netherla... more This study examines utilisation of the Dutch health care system by Chinese people in the Netherlands as well as their attitudes to the system, paying special attention to mental health. Information was gathered by semistructured interviews (n = 102). The main issues investigated are access, help-seeking behaviour, and quality of care. Results showed that most respondents used Dutch health care as their primary method of managing health problems. Inadequate knowledge about the system and lack of Dutch language proficiency impede access to care, in particular registration with a General Practitioner (GP). Users complained that the care given differed from what they expected. Results also showed that the major problems are to be found in the group coming from the Chinese-speaking region. Western concepts of mental health appear to be widely accepted by Chinese in the Netherlands. However, almost half of our respondents believed that traditional Chinese medicine or other methods can also help with mental health problems. The provision of relevant information in Chinese appears to be important for improving access. Better interpretation and translation services, especially for first-generation migrants from the Chinese-speaking region, are also required.
Chinese are less likely to use mental health care than other ethnic groups in the Netherlands, ye... more Chinese are less likely to use mental health care than other ethnic groups in the Netherlands, yet present more serious symptoms at the first consultation. However, the reason for these differences is unknown because of the scarcity of
research. This doctoral research sets out to shed light on mental health care utilisation among this group. It further examines the adequacy of Dutch mental health care services for them.
Results show that the Chinese studied regarded Dutch health care as their primary method of managing general and mental health problems. The beliefs they expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in
the West in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services. Although cultural differences were observed which might create barriers to mutual understanding between health professionals and Chinese care users, they were not such as to prevent Chinese from accepting and benefiting from Dutch health care. The results of this research suggest that the main barriers have to do with practical factors, e.g. low Dutch proficiency, lack of
knowledge of the health system, or language and communication problems. Other barriers include lack of cultural sensitivity among professionals and the failure of
the health system to take steps to overcome these problems.
The study also showed that Chinese in the Netherlands form a heterogeneous group in terms of their origins, migration patterns, socio-economic status and levels of integration. Service providers and policy makers should take the
diversity of the Chinese group into account and pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, knowledge of the health care system, attitudes of professionals and discrimination.
‘Stil Verdriet’ is de eerste publicatie in de Mikado Wegwijzers. Deze gaat over de meer dan 100.0... more ‘Stil Verdriet’ is de eerste publicatie in de Mikado Wegwijzers. Deze gaat over de meer dan 100.000 Chinese migranten en bevat praktische informatie voor professionals over cultuur, omgangsvormen, ziektebeleving en zorg- en verwijsmogelijkheden. Hoewel het accent op de geestelijke gezondheidszorg ligt, is de Wegwijzer ook zeer bruikbaar voor andere zorgterreinen.
It is a fortune to be able to express my multi-passionate understanding of our world on a profess... more It is a fortune to be able to express my multi-passionate understanding of our world on a professional and holistic level, as a scientist, an educationalist, a public speaker, a policy advisor, and even as a diplomat. My aspiration is to translate, integrate, and communicate knowledge with individuals and with the public. I believe, by sharing mindfulness and exchanging critical insights, we advance the understanding of our living and further inspire our lives.
The main goal for this research is to study the practice condition of public relations in modern ... more The main goal for this research is to study the practice condition of public relations in modern hospitals. In the thesis, researchers tried to analyze the public programs and executions of the hospital in the case, and to come up with suggestion for PR. This research follows the case methods, using diagnostic research on the hospital. The research includes two parts. First, interviews with the executives of the hospital in order to understand the background, current situation of PR, and the level of understanding of PR by the executives of the hospital. Second, taking polls from the clients to know the background, originality and other information from the case hospital. The following are the conclusions draw from the interviews, the poll and the documentation: Diagnostic results: 1.The executives related to PR still lacks proper knowledge of PR. 2.The organization lacks people with specialty to make out the planing and management of PR. 3.Employees do not following hospital's ...
This is a chapter of a official report presents the first national picture of the position of the... more This is a chapter of a official report presents the first national picture of the position of the Chinese community in the Netherlands. The report devotes attention among other things to their position in education, on the labour market and on the housing market. It also describes their proficiency in the Dutch language, their health status, interethnic contacts and ties to both the Netherlands and their own ethnic group. This chapter provides an overview of the 100-year history of Chinese in the Netherlands.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to test the widely held assumption that underutilisation ... more Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to test the widely held assumption that underutilisation of mental health services by Chinese living in western countries is due to their different beliefs regarding mental illness.
Design/methodology/approach
– Qualitative data were analysed from in-depth interviews with 23 Chinese respondents, who gave a total of 30 accounts of a Chinese person they knew who had experienced mental health problems in the Netherlands. Analysis focused on the way these problems were described and explained, as well as the kinds of help regarded as appropriate.
Findings
– The beliefs expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in the west in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services.
Research limitations/implications
– The study was exploratory and the limited sample size did not make it possible to analyse sources of variation in beliefs. Generalisation to other countries would need to take into account the specific characteristics of the Chinese population in those countries.
Practical implications
– Simply knowing that a person is of Chinese origin is likely to tell us little about their beliefs concerning mental health. Moreover, traditional Chinese beliefs are not necessarily incompatible with western ones. Service providers should pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, entitlement to care, knowledge of how the health system works and discrimination.
Originality/value
– The paper challenges widely held notions about ethnic Chinese that are seldom empirically tested. It is the first study of its kind in the Netherlands.
This study examines utilisation of the Dutch health care system by Chinese people in the Netherla... more This study examines utilisation of the Dutch health care system by Chinese people in the Netherlands as well as their attitudes to the system, paying special attention to mental health. Information was gathered by semistructured interviews (n = 102). The main issues investigated are access, help-seeking behaviour, and quality of care. Results showed that most respondents used Dutch health care as their primary method of managing health problems. Inadequate knowledge about the system and lack of Dutch language proficiency impede access to care, in particular registration with a General Practitioner (GP). Users complained that the care given differed from what they expected. Results also showed that the major problems are to be found in the group coming from the Chinese-speaking region. Western concepts of mental health appear to be widely accepted by Chinese in the Netherlands. However, almost half of our respondents believed that traditional Chinese medicine or other methods can also help with mental health problems. The provision of relevant information in Chinese appears to be important for improving access. Better interpretation and translation services, especially for first-generation migrants from the Chinese-speaking region, are also required.
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research. This doctoral research sets out to shed light on mental health care utilisation among this group. It further examines the adequacy of Dutch mental health care services for them.
Results show that the Chinese studied regarded Dutch health care as their primary method of managing general and mental health problems. The beliefs they expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in
the West in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services. Although cultural differences were observed which might create barriers to mutual understanding between health professionals and Chinese care users, they were not such as to prevent Chinese from accepting and benefiting from Dutch health care. The results of this research suggest that the main barriers have to do with practical factors, e.g. low Dutch proficiency, lack of
knowledge of the health system, or language and communication problems. Other barriers include lack of cultural sensitivity among professionals and the failure of
the health system to take steps to overcome these problems.
The study also showed that Chinese in the Netherlands form a heterogeneous group in terms of their origins, migration patterns, socio-economic status and levels of integration. Service providers and policy makers should take the
diversity of the Chinese group into account and pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, knowledge of the health care system, attitudes of professionals and discrimination.
Papers by Cha-Hsuan Liu
– The purpose of this paper is to test the widely held assumption that underutilisation of mental health services by Chinese living in western countries is due to their different beliefs regarding mental illness.
Design/methodology/approach
– Qualitative data were analysed from in-depth interviews with 23 Chinese respondents, who gave a total of 30 accounts of a Chinese person they knew who had experienced mental health problems in the Netherlands. Analysis focused on the way these problems were described and explained, as well as the kinds of help regarded as appropriate.
Findings
– The beliefs expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in the west in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services.
Research limitations/implications
– The study was exploratory and the limited sample size did not make it possible to analyse sources of variation in beliefs. Generalisation to other countries would need to take into account the specific characteristics of the Chinese population in those countries.
Practical implications
– Simply knowing that a person is of Chinese origin is likely to tell us little about their beliefs concerning mental health. Moreover, traditional Chinese beliefs are not necessarily incompatible with western ones. Service providers should pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, entitlement to care, knowledge of how the health system works and discrimination.
Originality/value
– The paper challenges widely held notions about ethnic Chinese that are seldom empirically tested. It is the first study of its kind in the Netherlands.
research. This doctoral research sets out to shed light on mental health care utilisation among this group. It further examines the adequacy of Dutch mental health care services for them.
Results show that the Chinese studied regarded Dutch health care as their primary method of managing general and mental health problems. The beliefs they expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in
the West in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services. Although cultural differences were observed which might create barriers to mutual understanding between health professionals and Chinese care users, they were not such as to prevent Chinese from accepting and benefiting from Dutch health care. The results of this research suggest that the main barriers have to do with practical factors, e.g. low Dutch proficiency, lack of
knowledge of the health system, or language and communication problems. Other barriers include lack of cultural sensitivity among professionals and the failure of
the health system to take steps to overcome these problems.
The study also showed that Chinese in the Netherlands form a heterogeneous group in terms of their origins, migration patterns, socio-economic status and levels of integration. Service providers and policy makers should take the
diversity of the Chinese group into account and pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, knowledge of the health care system, attitudes of professionals and discrimination.
– The purpose of this paper is to test the widely held assumption that underutilisation of mental health services by Chinese living in western countries is due to their different beliefs regarding mental illness.
Design/methodology/approach
– Qualitative data were analysed from in-depth interviews with 23 Chinese respondents, who gave a total of 30 accounts of a Chinese person they knew who had experienced mental health problems in the Netherlands. Analysis focused on the way these problems were described and explained, as well as the kinds of help regarded as appropriate.
Findings
– The beliefs expressed about mental illness did not seem to differ from those current in the west in ways that would form a major barrier to seeking help from mainstream services.
Research limitations/implications
– The study was exploratory and the limited sample size did not make it possible to analyse sources of variation in beliefs. Generalisation to other countries would need to take into account the specific characteristics of the Chinese population in those countries.
Practical implications
– Simply knowing that a person is of Chinese origin is likely to tell us little about their beliefs concerning mental health. Moreover, traditional Chinese beliefs are not necessarily incompatible with western ones. Service providers should pay more attention to issues such as communication barriers, entitlement to care, knowledge of how the health system works and discrimination.
Originality/value
– The paper challenges widely held notions about ethnic Chinese that are seldom empirically tested. It is the first study of its kind in the Netherlands.