Knowledge About Hospice Care and Beliefs About Pain Management

Abstract

Context: Among Hispanics, incomplete knowledge about hospice care may explain low rates of utilization and culturally-specific beliefs about pain and pain treatments may contribute to disparities in pain management. Objectives: To compare (1) knowledge and attitudes regarding hospice, (2) and beliefs about pain and pain medication between Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Methods: A cross-sectional phone-based survey of adults living in the contiguous United States was conducted using randomly selected phone numbers with over-sampling for diversity. Measures assessed knowledge (a 23-item test), attitudes (an 8-item scale), experiences, preferences related to hospice and beliefs regarding pain and pain management. Results: 123 individuals participated in the survey, 13% of whom were Hispanic. Hispanics were less likely to have heard of hospice are ( p <. 001) and, among those who had, more likely to have inaccurate information about it ( p = .05). Specifically, Hispanics were more likely to report that only individuals over age 65 are eligible for hospice services, which is incorrect (44% vs. 93% of non-Hispanics; p=.001). Only 67% of Hispanics knew that hospice helps family members as well as the dying person. More Hispanics (43%) than non-Hispanics (9.3%) reported that admitting pain is a sign of weakness ( p < .001). A greater proportion of Hispanic respondents agreed that a good patient does not talk about pain ( p = .07): 38% vs. 18% from non-Hispanics. Conclusion: Despite the increasing knowledge of hospice care among Hispanics, specific information about the scope of services remains limited. Cultural beliefs about pain management, along with inadequate knowledge of the role of pain management at end of life, persist.