"Intra-community communication influencing African-American hospice utilization"
| dc.contributor.advisor | Durham, Wesley T. | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Henning, Zachary T. | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Young, Stephanie L. | |
| dc.contributor.author | Rickelman, Lauren S. | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-12-09T18:13:41Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-12-09T18:13:41Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12419/308 | |
| dc.description | Thesis available in Rice Library University Archives and Special Collection. | |
| dc.description.abstract | Members of the African-American community make end-of-life decisions to not utilize hospice services to the same extent as other populations. Prior research has indicated that reasons for underutilization include lack of knowledge, misinformation, and cultural/religious barriers (e.g. Cort, 2004; Taxis, 2006; Reese, Ahern, Nair, O'Faire, & Warren, 1999; Winston, Leshner, Kramer, & Allen, 2005). This paper examines this issue from the standpoint of communication within the African-American community and how this communication influences the decision-making process at the end of life. Qualitative methods of focus groups with key community influencers and structured interviews with family members of deceased African-American hospice patients were employed and revealed data themes that affirmed lack of knowledge, misinformation, and cultural/religious norms act as barriers to hospice utilization among members of African-American communities. Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), offers a view of this intra-community communication through the lens of in-group/out-group behaviors, and recognizes implications for future improvement in hospice outreach. | |
| dc.subject | African-American | |
| dc.subject | healthcare services | |
| dc.subject | identity and race | |
| dc.title | "Intra-community communication influencing African-American hospice utilization" | |
| html.description.abstract | Members of the African-American community make end-of-life decisions to not utilize hospice services to the same extent as other populations. Prior research has indicated that reasons for underutilization include lack of knowledge, misinformation, and cultural/religious barriers (e.g. Cort, 2004; Taxis, 2006; Reese, Ahern, Nair, O'Faire, & Warren, 1999; Winston, Leshner, Kramer, & Allen, 2005). This paper examines this issue from the standpoint of communication within the African-American community and how this communication influences the decision-making process at the end of life. Qualitative methods of focus groups with key community influencers and structured interviews with family members of deceased African-American hospice patients were employed and revealed data themes that affirmed lack of knowledge, misinformation, and cultural/religious norms act as barriers to hospice utilization among members of African-American communities. Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), offers a view of this intra-community communication through the lens of in-group/out-group behaviors, and recognizes implications for future improvement in hospice outreach. | |
| dc.contributor.degree | Master of Arts in Communication | |
| dc.type | Thesis (M.A.)--University of Southern Indiana, 2011 |