Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T14:29:05.184Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Teaching end-of-life preparation to African Americans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2020

Delicia Pruitt ,
Kirsten Weber  and
Neli Ragina Open the ORCID record for Neli Ragina [Opens in a new window]
Delicia Pruitt*
Affiliation:
CMU College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, MI CMU Educational Partners, Saginaw, MI
Kirsten Weber
Affiliation:
CMU College of the Arts and Media, Mount Pleasant, MI
Neli Ragina
Affiliation:
CMU College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, MI
*
Author for correspondence: Delicia Pruitt, 1575 Concentric Blvd. Suite 1, Saginaw, MI 48604, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

This is a pilot study with a primary goal to develop an effective, targeted educational intervention that can serve as a teaching tool to educate African American (AA) population, especially the elderly, on options of end of life (EOL) prior to critical care.

Method

We first assessed the level of preparation for EOL in the AA community through a survey instrument. The survey was used to determine the deficits in knowledge in AA population in Mid-Michigan regarding EOL choices before and after the educational intervention. Paired-sample t-test was used to assess changes in understanding about EOL planning options. Regressions analysis was used to assess these changes while including several demographic covariates. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Our pilot data indicated that the educational intervention could be used as an effective teaching tool in educating AA population on EOL choices.

Significance of results

AA patients are more likely to choose life-sustaining measures at the end of their lives compared to other ethnic groups despite terminal illness. This decision is partly based on lack of knowledge of the available options of care at the EOL. Due to multiple life-sustaining measures, the AA patients are not receiving the care to help them peacefully die. This study provides evidence that physicians will need to increase their educational efforts with the AA population to help them better understand EOL options. An educational tool like the one developed in this study may be helpful and lessen the time of education so that the physician can answer any questions at the end of the session and also empower individuals and communities to take an active role in creating a culture of wellness at the EOL and decreasing morbidity.

Keywords

African AmericanEducationEnd-of-life choices
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 335 - 340
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Cohen, LL (2008) Racial/ethnic disparities in hospice care: A systematic review. Journal of Palliative Medicine 11(5), 763–768.10.1089/jpm.2007.0216CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dillard, JP, Weber, KM and Vail, RG (2007) The relationship between the perceived and actual effectiveness of persuasive messages: A meta-analysis with implications for formative campaign research. Journal of Communication 57(4), 613–631.10.1111/j.1460-2466.2007.00360.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eneanya, ND, Wenger, BJ, Waite, K, et al. (2016) Racial disparities in end-of-life communication and preferences among chronic kidney disease patients. American Journal of Nephrology 44(1), 46–53.10.1159/000447097CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hanchate, A, Kronman, AC, Young-Xu, Y, et al. (2009) Racial and ethnic differences in end-of-life costs: Why do minorities cost more than whites? Archives Internationales de Medecine 169(5), 493–450.10.1001/archinternmed.2008.616CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, KS, Elbert-Avila, K, Kuchibhatla, M, et al. (2006) Racial differences in next-of-kin participation in an ongoing survey of satisfaction with end-of-life care: A study of a study. Journal of Palliative Medicine 9(5), 1076–1085.10.1089/jpm.2006.9.1076CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kwak, J and Haley, WE (2005) Current research findings on end-of-life decision making among racially or ethnically diverse groups. Gerontologist 45(5), 634–641.10.1093/geront/45.5.634CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morrison, RS, Penrod, JD, Cassel, JB, et al. (2008) Cost savings associated with US hospital palliative care consultation programs. Archives Internationales de Medecine 168(16), 1783–1790.10.1001/archinte.168.16.1783CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
National Institute on Aging (2017) What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care? May 17. Available at: www.nia.nih.gov.Google Scholar
Scott, D, Halpern, SD and Emanuel, EJ (2012) Advance directives and cost savings greater clarity and perpetual confusion. Archives Internationales de Medecine 172(3), 266–268.Google Scholar