Comparison of Hospice Use by European Americans, African Americans, and Latinos

Abstract

This study investigated the rate of hospice use by Latinos and African Americans relative to their prevalence in the general population between 2004 and 2010 as a follow-up to a previous investigation. Archival data ( N = 2625) were collected on patients' race/ethnicity, gender, marital status, length of stay in hospice, and reason for discharge. In contrast to previous findings, African Americans were more likely to utilize hospice services, but Latinos were less likely to use hospice services compared to the other groups. There were no differences among the racial/ethnic groups in terms of length of stay or disposition at termination. Strengthening efforts to reach a larger racial/ethnic representation in hospice programs may increase the rate of hospice use by some racial/ethnic groups but not others.