Hispanics and Hospice: A Systematic Literature Review.
Valeria Cardenas, Gillian Fennell, Susan Enguidanos
PMID 35848308WHAT IT FOUND
Hispanics are less aware of hospice and more likely to be discharged alive or hospitalized than White patients.
Only 39% of hospice patients in the South were Hispanic. Clinicians must proactively address knowledge gaps and monitor for early discharge risks in this population.
Key findings
01Hospice awareness varies widely among Hispanic subgroups, ranging from 16% to 73%, with many holding misconceptions such as believing hospice care ends after death or is only for adults over 65.
02Hispanic patients have higher rates of live discharge and hospitalization during hospice care compared to White patients, indicating potential unmet needs or poor quality of care.
03Culturally tailored interventions have not yet been proven effective; the only randomized controlled trial included found no significant difference in hospice use or length of stay.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most studies grouped all Hispanic nationalities together, masking differences between subgroups like Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican Americans. No studies included undocumented immigrants, who may face distinct barriers. The review excluded qualitative studies, so it does not capture the nuanced reasons behind patient and family decisions. Many studies used the same national datasets, which may overemphasize findings from specific sources. Only one randomized controlled trial was included, limiting conclusions about effective interventions.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that cultural sensitivity alone improves hospice outcomes. The only randomized trial included in this review found no significant difference in hospice use or length of stay between the intervention and control groups, suggesting that current culturally tailored approaches may not be sufficient to change utilization patterns.