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.
San Diego State University School of Social Work, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA. eko@mail.sdsu.edu
Eunjeong
E
Ko
Jaehoon
J
Lee
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