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Understanding and Supporting African Americans’ Perspectives of End-of-Life Care Planning and Decision Making

University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems

Ethnicity has been found to explain some differences across ethnic groups regarding end-of-life care choices. African Americans appear to be less likely to know about advance directives and to complete them. Five community-based focus groups, consisting of 27 African Americans, were convened to explore their perspectives of end-of-life care planning and decision making. Content analysis revealed six themes: death is not an option, religiosity and end-of-life care planning is a paradox, the health care system is a microcosm of societal and historical events, a "trusted" family member or friend is the contract for life-and-death options, ethnically relevant initiatives are essential to increase advance directives participation, and people are people. These themes serve to guide health care professionals in minimizing actions that increase African Americans’ mistrust of the health care system not only in end-of-life situations but also in all of health care-related interactions.

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