Objective: Our aim was to evaluate a type 2 diabetes education programme for Chinese Australians, based on the experience of participants and by exploring the unique needs of Chinese patients, their health beliefs and their cultural behaviours.

Design and setting: We undertook a qualitative ethnographic study in a community health service setting in Southeast Melbourne, Australia.

Method: Eight semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of past participants of a diabetes education programme for Chinese Australians. Data were thematically analysed, using both an ethnographic and a phenomenological lens.

Results: Although participants appreciated the delivery of diabetes education in their own language, many expressed frustration and confusion when applying education messages to disease management. They described the barriers imposed by their collectivistic orientation, whereby Chinese people accept health recommendations unquestioningly, often living in misery with an excessively rigid management plan, and highlighted their lack of understanding of self-management. Patients also felt helpless in trying to mix Western and Eastern medical practices without adequate professional support.

Conclusions: This qualitative study illustrates the complex and multifaceted challenges associated with diabetes management among Chinese Australians, and identifies many unique needs encountered by Chinese patients that were not addressed by the diabetes programme studied. There is an urgent need to identify optimal diabetes education models that will meet the needs of Chinese Australians.