Racial differences in the willingness to use hospice services

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• End-of-Life Care Research

Background:

• Racial disparities in healthcare utilization persist.
• Understanding end-of-life care preferences is crucial for equitable healthcare.
• Hospice services offer palliative care for terminally ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine racial differences in the willingness to use hospice services between black and white adults.
• To identify factors contributing to these potential differences in hospice utilization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the City of Cincinnati component of the Greater Cincinnati Survey.
• Conducted 473 telephone interviews with black (n=220) and white (n=253) adults.
• Analyzed willingness to use hospice based on race, prior exposure, and physician trust.

Main Results:

• Black adults were significantly less likely than white adults to consider hospice, even with strong physician recommendation.
• Reluctance among black adults was associated with prior hospice exposure and trust in physician decision-making.
• Positive prior hospice exposure increased willingness for black adults who trusted their doctor, but decreased it for those who did not.

Conclusions:

• Increasing hospice utilization among black populations requires understanding their experiences with hospice.
• Physician trust is a critical factor influencing black adults' end-of-life care decisions.
• Addressing racial disparities in hospice use necessitates culturally sensitive approaches and improved doctor-patient communication.