title: Just ask: hospice familiarity in Asian and Hispanic adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research documents the under-utilization of hospice services by minority ethnic groups, but less data exist for Asian and Hispanic Americans. It is unclear whether these low utilization rates are a result of attitudinal or information barriers, or both.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine self-reported familiarity and attitudes toward hospice among Asian and Hispanic groups in ethnically diverse Queens County, NY.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed diverse adults during health fairs, at senior centers, and church programs directed at ethnic populations. Respondents completed surveys in their preferred language: Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), and Korean. Analysis of variance was used to compare continuous variables among language groups; Fisher's exact test compared categorical variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 604 community adults were surveyed: 99 Chinese, 349 Korean, 156 Spanish. Respondents were mostly female, average age 53 years. Familiarity with hospice varied significantly among the groups (P < 0.001) and was lower in the Hispanic (16%) and higher in the Chinese (45%) and Korean (56%) groups. Personal experiences with hospice were low (8-16%) in all groups. A majority (75-94%) responded they would share hospice information with loved ones, but the Hispanic group was significantly less likely to do so compared with Chinese and Korean Americans. Between 74 and 95% reported willingness to receive future information about hospice, but the Korean group was significantly less likely to want information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When surveyed in their preferred language, Asian and Hispanic adults reported variable levels of familiarity with hospice services. Most responded positively to receiving future information and would tell friends and family members about hospice.
authors.affiliation: New York Hospital Queens, Flushing, New York, USA. Electronic address: cxp9001@nyp.org.
authors.forename: Cynthia X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciencs, Touro College, Bay Shore, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giron
authors.affiliation: NORC at The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: LeMarie
authors.affiliation: St. John's University, Queens, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Simcha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pollack
mesh_terms: D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Asian; Hispanic; Hospice; end of life; familiarity; survey