Feature

Cultural Relevance in End-of-Life Care

Maori statue at Maori Cemetery, New Zealand. Photo by Phyllis Coolen.

The discussion a health care provider, including physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, nurses, and social workers, has with a patient about end-of-life care is often a challenge.  The challenges can be influenced by a number of variables, such as the provider’s training and experience is this area, the provider’s comfort level in discussing the subject, and the availability of adequate time for having the discussion (Kamaka, 2010; Tait & Hodges, 2009).  A provider may be challenged further when the patient’s cultural norms differ from the health care provider’s, particularly around end-of-life care, which can impact the provision of quality end-of-life care.

This resource, authored by a community health and hospice clinician who has over 30 years’ experience with hospice care, addresses three major areas of cultural relevance in end-of-life care: cultural competency in clinical practice; advance directives; and pain management. The article presents several models for cultural assessment including questions and sample scripts for the health care provider to consider for discussions with patients.  Read more...

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