Minority patient groups—including those whose primary language is not English and those who have lower middle-income economic status—with a diagnosis of metastatic cancer, are less likely to receive end-of-life palliative care or a hospice referral, according to Rutgers researchers who say more standardized policies are needed to diminish gaps in care.
“New Jersey is a diverse community, and our clinicians must take into consideration language barriers and potential translation obstacles that can lead to misinterpretations of symptoms,” said Elissa Kozlov, senior author and instructor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy at the Rutgers School of Public Health. “When we remove these obstacles and educate our workforce, we are able to work towards ensuring that we are providing the best quality of life for patients.” To read the full story.