Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42047224›Full record

ArticlePalliative & supportive care2026

The emotional labor of end-of-life care work: Findings of a mixed methods study in Hong Kong.

Biyun Li, Margo Turnbull, Carol Yu, Xiaoyan Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Palliative & supportive care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Biyun LiDepartment of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8653-7797
Margo TurnbullDepartment of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
Carol YuDepartment of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.
Xiaoyan WuDepartment of English and Communication, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study explored how end-of-life (EOL) care practitioners in Hong Kong engaged in emotional labor while fulfilling their professional roles in a Chinese cultural context.

methodsA sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. A quantitative survey (

resultsEOL care practitioners reported high emotional job demands, with deep acting being their preferred emotional labor strategy over surface acting. Three key themes emerged related to: (1) balancing emotional involvement and professional boundaries; (2) employing strategic emotional engagement; and (3) navigating cultural beliefs and family dynamics. This multidisciplinary workforce developed sophisticated practices to manage their emotions authentically while establishing protective psychological boundaries. These practices integrated the provision of emotional support with the navigation of tensions between Chinese cultural values and professional responsibilities. SIGNIFICANCE OF

resultsThis study used mixed-methods to explore how traditional values were integrated into the everyday care practices of EOL practitioners in Hong Kong. The findings contribute to an innovative and culturally sensitive framework for exploring emotional labor in EOL care contexts. This is useful in both Chinese and multicultural care contexts.

Indexed as

EmotionsTerminal CareAdultFemaleHong KongHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesEmotional laborend-of-lifeEOL care practitionerHong Kongmultidisciplinary workforce

Identifiers

PMID42047224
PMCPMC13166426

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.