The utility of a connecting framework to facilitate understanding of and reduce the disparities in hospice care experienced by racial and ethnic minorities.

Rapidly changing demographics in the United States and diverse cultural beliefs impact hospice utilization and end-of-life care. Healthcare professionals and clinicians need a connecting framework to understand patients' and their famiiy's perspectives regarding utilization of those services. This framework will assist healthcare workers in providing cuiturally sensitive and appropriate information to patients nearing the end of life, so that they and their ioved ones can make informed decisions for optimal care during this passage of life. Considering the variables in this framework may also help facilitate communication between healthcare professionals and patients and reduce misunderstanding among the surviving family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]