Factors that influence physicians' recommendation of hospice care: An exploratory study

Palliative care and an array of attending services for terminally ill patients are available through over 2,465 hospices in the United States today. Although the actual number of terminally ill patients receiving hospice care has increased over the past decade, there is a growing concern of underutilization. Research has reported that despite meeting eligibility requirements only twenty-five percent of terminally ill patients have been served by hospice. Further, with a median stay of thirty days, the patients as well as their attending families may not be able to receive the full benefits of hospice care. In an effort to address these issues of underutilization, this exploratory study examines the relationship between physicians' referral behaviors and their awareness and perceived importance of selected hospice services, and agreement with hospice philosophy. Physician demographics and practice characteristics that are related to referral patterns are also identified.