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Related Experiment Videos

How do surrogate decision makers describe hospice? Does it matter?

Elizabeth K Vig1, Helene Starks, Janelle S Taylor

  • 1Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|April 1, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Many surrogate decision-makers lack knowledge about hospice care, hindering access for loved ones. Educating surrogates on hospice’s key aspects is crucial for improving end-of-life care utilization.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and Palliative Care
  • Health Services Research
  • End-of-Life Decision Making

Background:

  • Surrogate decision-makers play a vital role in healthcare access for chronically ill older adults.
  • Understanding of hospice care among surrogates is essential for appropriate end-of-life care utilization.
  • Previous hospice experience may influence surrogate knowledge, but gaps persist.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore surrogate decision-makers' knowledge of hospice care.
  • To identify the role of surrogates in facilitating access to hospice services for loved ones.
  • To examine the relationship between surrogate knowledge and future hospice care utilization.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative interviews were conducted with 71 surrogate decision-makers of older, chronically ill veterans.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants were asked to describe hospice and their experiences with it.
  • Knowledge of three key hospice aspects (patient eligibility, care location, care goals) was assessed.

    • Main Results:

    • A significant proportion of surrogates, even those with prior hospice experience (24%), lacked complete understanding of key hospice aspects.
    • Only 14% of surrogates without prior experience correctly described these core hospice elements.
    • Accurate knowledge of hospice was associated with a greater inclination to pursue hospice care for loved ones.

    Conclusions:

    • Incomplete surrogate knowledge of hospice represents a significant barrier to accessing these vital end-of-life services.
    • Clinicians should proactively discuss the three key aspects of hospice during advance care planning.
    • Targeted education for surrogates is recommended to improve hospice awareness and utilization among veterans and their families.