title: Terminally ill African American elders' access to and use of hospice care.
abstract: The underuse of hospice care by terminally ill African American elders suggests they are suffering when hospice care could offer quality end of life care. Guided by the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, this study sought understanding of structural barriers faced when seeking access to hospice care and reasons for using it when access is possible. Data was collected through interviews with 28 African American hospice patients. Themes from directed content analysis provide insights into strategies used to overcome access barriers posed by income, health insurance and administrative procedure, as well as the role religion, family, information and health beliefs played in using it. Distributing educational materials and addressing spiritual/religious concerns in choosing hospice care are key in promoting African Americans' use of hospice care.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama, School of Social Work, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA hnoh1@sw.ua.edu.
authors.forename: Hyunjin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Social Work, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Schroepfer
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D019452:Terminally Ill
keywords: African American; barriers; behavioral model; decision making; hospice; qualitative