Skip to main content
. 2017 Oct 9;177(12):1858–1860. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.4793

Table 2. Racial Differences in Quality of End-of-Life Care.

Bereaved Family Member Report Decedents, %a Adjusted Odds Ratio (95% CI)b
Black
(n = 281)
White
(n = 825)
Unmet need for pain management 17.8 22.8 0.77 (0.46-1.29)
Unmet need for anxiety/depression 51.9 48.0 1.15 (0.66-1.97)
Unmet need for dyspnea 15.5 21.4 0.63 (0.32-1.24)
Not always treated with respect 11.3 16.8 0.53 (0.30-0.91)
Religious/spiritual concerns 56.1 56.8 1.05 (0.69-1.61)
Decision made without enough input from the decedent or family 8.2 10.1 0.71 (0.40-1.28)
Decision made that the decedent would not have wanted 10.4 13.7 0.78 (0.49-1.24)
Family not always kept informed 20.4 22.9 0.80 (0.52-1.22)
Overall carec
Excellent 47.7 49.4 1.07 (0.76-1.52)
Very good 29.9 31.6
Good 12.0 12.0
Fair/poor 10.4 7.0
a

Data are presented as survey–weight adjusted percentages.

b

Adjusted for decedent age, respondent relationship to decedent, round of NHATS, pattern of functional decline as indicated by not getting out of bed, and presence of a cancer diagnosis.

c

Using ordinal logistic regression analysis.