Racial differences in attitudes toward hospice care

Two-hundred and fifty three adults in the Atlanta area completed a telephone survey regarding prospective personal use of hospice services. Race was found to be the only personal attribute relevant to a predisposition to use hospice care. Whites were more likely than blacks to have attitudes conducive to the choice of hospice care. Although there is evidence in the literature that black Americans are less likely to use hospice care than are white Americans, there are not yet detailed explanations of personal differences in attitudes toward using hospice care. This article suggests themes for future research on possible racial differences in attitudes toward use of hospice care.