Cultural Differences Affect End-of-Life Care, Panel Says
California physicians need additional training and resources to discuss end-of-life care with patients from different ethnic groups, panelists at a meeting last week said, New America Media reports.
Mark Smith, president of the California HealthCare Foundation, presented findings of a study commissioned by CHCF examining racial disparities in end-of-life care. The study found that whites accounted for a significant majority of people using end-of-life care.
Smith said that it was particularly important for people with chronic diseases to discuss end-of-life care with their health care providers.
Alice Chen of San Francisco General Hospital called for continuing medical education coursework on the subject, saying that doctors "have very little training in end-of-life care" (Sundaram, New America Media, 5/26).
The California HealthCare Foundation is the publisher of California Healthline.