Changes in Racial Differences in Palliative Care Awareness and Understanding From 2018 to 2024

Over the past decade palliative care has expanded significantly across the U.S. healthcare system. However, little is known about recent U.S. population-level trends in palliative care awareness and understanding.

This study aimed to examine changes in palliative care awareness and understanding from 2018 to 2024 across racial and ethnic groups.

We combined two waves of data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), including 2,793 respondents from 2018 to 6,016 from 2024. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between palliative care awareness and understanding with various sociodemographic factors. Interaction terms between race and survey year were included to assess differences in trends across racial and ethnic groups over time.

From 2018 to 2024, palliative care awareness increased across all racial and ethnic groups (29% to 51%), with the highest levels among non-Hispanic White participants (33% to 53%). In contrast, understanding of palliative care decreased across all groups (72% to 55%), with the steepest decline observed among non-Hispanic Black individuals (75% to 48%).

These findings suggest growing awareness but increasing confusion about palliative care, especially among minority groups, highlighting the need for improved and culturally responsive public education efforts.