title: Cross-cultural communication and use of the family meeting in palliative care.
abstract: Terminally-ill patients and their families often report poor communication and limited understanding of the patient's diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan; these deficits can be exacerbated by cross-cultural issues. Although family meetings are frequently recommended to facilitate provider-family communication, a more structured, evidence-based approach to their use may improve outcomes. Drawing on research and guidelines from critical care, palliative care, and cross-cultural communication, we propose a framework for conducting family meetings with consideration for cross-cultural issues.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hospital Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. rasharma@nmh.org
authors.forename: Rashmi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Sydney M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dy
mesh_terms: D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000208:ethnology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations