Can African-Americans Be Encouraged to Become Active Participants in Advanced Care Planning?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Gerontology

Background:

• African-Americans are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases.
• Systemic reviews indicate lower participation in advanced care planning (ACP) and end-of-life care among African-Americans compared to other ethnic groups.
• Addressing these disparities is crucial for equitable healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase African-American participation in advanced care planning (ACP).
• To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on ACP awareness and intent among African-Americans.
• To promote proactive end-of-life care discussions within this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was employed in two local churches.
• Thirty African-American participants (≥18 years) completed pre- and post-surveys based on the 2003 Minnesota Survey.
• A 30-minute educational intervention on advanced directives was administered, followed by paired t-test analysis of survey responses.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between pre- and post-survey responses.
• All 30 participants expressed intent to consider completing an advanced directive.
• Participants indicated a greater likelihood of discussing end-of-life care with others or seeking legal/medical advice post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• A brief educational intervention can significantly enhance African-Americans' willingness to engage in advanced care planning.
• While results are promising, the small sample size precludes generalization.
• Advanced practice registered nurses should prioritize ACP education for African-Americans, and further research is needed to explore diverse educational strategies.