TY - JOUR
T1 - End- of- life treatment preference among low-income older adults
T2 - A race/ethnicity comparison study
AU - Ko, Eunjeong
AU - Lee, Jaehoon
PY - 2014/8
Y1 - 2014/8
N2 - Introduction. Racial/ethnic minority older adults in low-income status might be at a greater risk than others of developing chronic illness. We sought to examine the effects of race/ethnicity on end-of-life (EOL) treatment preference among low-income older adults. Methods. A cross-sectional study surveyed 256 low-income older adults (90 Whites, 82 Hispanics, 84 Blacks) in a California city. Results. Hierarchical multiple regression results showed that participants with greater religiosity (p <.01) or more frequent doctors' visits (p <.05) had greater preference for life-sustaining treatments during the final phase of life. Conversely, those with greater comfort about death (p <.01) or a belief that life and death are predestined (p <.05) preferred life-sustaining treatments less often. Race/ethnicity had no significant relationship with EOL treatment preference after accounting for other factors. Conclusion. Race/ethnicity encompasses multiple life contexts. Understanding the influences of both cultural beliefs and individual circumstances on EOL treatment preference is imperative.
AB - Introduction. Racial/ethnic minority older adults in low-income status might be at a greater risk than others of developing chronic illness. We sought to examine the effects of race/ethnicity on end-of-life (EOL) treatment preference among low-income older adults. Methods. A cross-sectional study surveyed 256 low-income older adults (90 Whites, 82 Hispanics, 84 Blacks) in a California city. Results. Hierarchical multiple regression results showed that participants with greater religiosity (p <.01) or more frequent doctors' visits (p <.05) had greater preference for life-sustaining treatments during the final phase of life. Conversely, those with greater comfort about death (p <.01) or a belief that life and death are predestined (p <.05) preferred life-sustaining treatments less often. Race/ethnicity had no significant relationship with EOL treatment preference after accounting for other factors. Conclusion. Race/ethnicity encompasses multiple life contexts. Understanding the influences of both cultural beliefs and individual circumstances on EOL treatment preference is imperative.
KW - End- of- life treatment
KW - Low income
KW - Older adults
KW - Preference
KW - Race/ethnicity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84906060633&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1353/hpu.2014.0129
DO - 10.1353/hpu.2014.0129
M3 - Article
C2 - 25130222
AN - SCOPUS:84906060633
SN - 1049-2089
VL - 25
SP - 1021
EP - 1033
JO - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
JF - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
IS - 3
ER -