Palliative Care for the Asian American Adult Population: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Palliative Care
• Health Disparities

Background:

• The Asian American population is a rapidly growing demographic in the U.S.
• Existing palliative care (PC) literature for Asian Americans (AAs) is not well-defined.
• This review addresses the current scope of PC research for AAs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing research on palliative care for Asian Americans.
• To identify gaps in the literature concerning PC for AA populations.
• To provide recommendations for future research and practice implications.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted using major electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO).
• Studies published in English up to December 2019 were included, with no start date limit.
• Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework guided the review process.

Main Results:

• Out of 2390 initial publications, 42 studies met the inclusion criteria.
• Southeast Asian American subgroups are significantly understudied compared to East and South Asian Americans.
• Research focused on treatment discussions (73%), care coordination (26%), symptom management (14%), and emotional support (10%), highlighting the influence of cultural factors.

Conclusions:

• A culturally inclusive approach is essential for delivering effective and accessible palliative care to Asian Americans.
• Further research is imperative to explore core PC components and interventions tailored to diverse Asian American subgroups.