Exploring the Relationship Between Palliative Care Knowledge, Health Concerns, and Education Among Seriously Ill Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers Using Survey and Interview Data: A Novel Approach.

The sample was too small for statistical testing, so the patterns may be chance. Most participants were highly educated, so the results may not apply to people with less schooling. People who did not speak English were excluded, so patterns may differ for non-English speakers. Participants came from one Medicare Advantage plan, so other settings may differ. The study only included people who declined palliative care, so it cannot compare them with people who accepted it. The authors could not assess experiences with racial discrimination, trust in providers, or religious preferences.

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that palliative care knowledge caused people to decline services, or that explaining palliative care will increase uptake. This was a small descriptive study of people who already declined, and it did not test any intervention or use statistical testing.