End-of-life communication: ethnic differences between Korean American and non-Hispanic White older adults.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined ethnic differences in end-of-life communication between Korean American and non-Hispanic White older adults using the Health Belief Model as a conceptual framework.


METHODS
A cross-sectional design was employed to survey 217 community-dwelling older adults (112 Korean Americans and 105 Non-Hispanic Whites).


RESULTS
Half of the participants had never held end-of-life discussions with significant others. Non-Hispanic Whites were more likely to engage in end-of-life communication than Korean Americans, but the ethnicity effect was not evident in a multivariate analysis. Only participants' knowledge, perceived barriers, perceived severity, and experience of illness significantly predicted the likelihood of the end-of-life communication. Higher knowledge, stronger beliefs about the perceived severity and barriers, and greater experience of illness were related to having end-of-life communication.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge and health beliefs play an important role in end-of-life communication which differs by ethnicity. Culturally competent health care practitioners need to consider ethnic variation in advance care planning.
Ko
Eunjeong
E
San Diego State University School of Social Work, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA. eko@mail.sdsu.edu
Lee
Jaehoon
J
D032722:Advance Care Planning; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D003142:Communication; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People