Objectives: This three year demonstration project, funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation, worked with diverse communities to establish collaborative efforts around end of life care. The project examined participant knowledge and perspectives regarding use of life supportive measures, hospice care, and advance directives; and views about what constitues quality of care at end of life. In this presentation, we will present findings from work with two major communities served by our health system: African-American and Korean-American.
Methods: Interviews, focus groups, and community forums were conducted from 1998 to 2000. Priorities identified in interviews and forums were tested out in focus groups.
Results: Members of ethnically diverse communities have different histories and experiences with the healthcare system that affect their views around end of life and preferences for care. Problematic areas identified include: uncertainty about what are life supportive measures, distrust of meaning of referral to hospice, lack of familiarity with basic patient rights; and language difficulties affecting overall systems of care. Differences with regard to specific communities will be discussed.
Conclusion: Collaborative efforts that bring clinical ethics out into the community offer opportunities for reciprocal learnings, innovative program development and community empowerment.
Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss what issues, challenges, and barriers are faced by different ethnic communities around care and caring at end of life. 2. Develop a plan for a community forum and follow-up focus groups to address one problem faced by healthcare institutions or communities around care at the end of life. 3. List three ways that community-centered research can improve the delivery of care at the end of life.
Keywords: Community Collaboration, Quality of Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Jefferson Health System -Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.