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Church-Based Health Promotion Focused on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care at Black Baptist Churches: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hendricks Sloan, D; Peters, T; Johnson, KS; Bowie, JV; Ting, Y; Aslakson, R
Published in: J Palliat Med
February 2016

BACKGROUND: African Americans with serious illnesses receive substandard palliative care (PC) and end-of-life care (EOLC) with a disproportionate number having worse symptom-related suffering, poorer health-related communication and knowledge of advance care planning (ACP) wishes, and increased utilization of hospitals and intensive care units at EOL. Previous research emphasizes the importance of spirituality and the church in African American communities. We are pioneering an innovative partnership between two Baptist African American churches and an interdisciplinary research team with a goal of developing and implementing a community-based, church-centered ACP program. We hypothesize that a church-based approach-which embraces and celebrates religion and spirituality as a means to discuss ACP and EOLC-can improve the quality of EOLC. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine parishioner experiences and beliefs about EOLC and their potential desire for a church-based program that would address ACP and EOLC. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of parishioners at two large black Baptist churches across four weekend services in December 2014 was conducted using a five-question, Likert-scale survey completed on a note card. RESULTS: There were 930 responses submitted. Approximately 70% of parishioners care, or have cared, for someone with multiple medical problems and/or who is dying, and a vast majority (97%) believed that good EOLC is "important" or "very important." Only 60% of respondents noted having spoken with someone who could make decisions for them if they are unable to speak for themselves and that number decreased to 28% of respondents between the ages of 65 and 80. A majority (93%) would welcome church-provided information about EOLC. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of parishioners care for someone with multiple health problems and believe that good EOLC is important. However, significantly less had designated a surrogate decision maker, particularly in parishioners over the age of 65. Respondents would welcome a church-based program focused on improving EOLC.

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Published In

J Palliat Med

DOI

EISSN

1557-7740

Publication Date

February 2016

Volume

19

Issue

2

Start / End Page

190 / 194

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Terminal Care
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Protestantism
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Health Promotion
  • Gerontology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aged
 

Citation

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Hendricks Sloan, D., Peters, T., Johnson, K. S., Bowie, J. V., Ting, Y., & Aslakson, R. (2016). Church-Based Health Promotion Focused on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care at Black Baptist Churches: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Palliat Med, 19(2), 190–194. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2015.0319
Hendricks Sloan, Danetta, Theodora Peters, Kimberly S. Johnson, Janice V. Bowie, Yang Ting, and Rebecca Aslakson. “Church-Based Health Promotion Focused on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care at Black Baptist Churches: A Cross-Sectional Survey.J Palliat Med 19, no. 2 (February 2016): 190–94. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2015.0319.
Hendricks Sloan D, Peters T, Johnson KS, Bowie JV, Ting Y, Aslakson R. Church-Based Health Promotion Focused on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care at Black Baptist Churches: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Palliat Med. 2016 Feb;19(2):190–4.
Hendricks Sloan, Danetta, et al. “Church-Based Health Promotion Focused on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care at Black Baptist Churches: A Cross-Sectional Survey.J Palliat Med, vol. 19, no. 2, Feb. 2016, pp. 190–94. Pubmed, doi:10.1089/jpm.2015.0319.
Hendricks Sloan D, Peters T, Johnson KS, Bowie JV, Ting Y, Aslakson R. Church-Based Health Promotion Focused on Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care at Black Baptist Churches: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Palliat Med. 2016 Feb;19(2):190–194.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Palliat Med

DOI

EISSN

1557-7740

Publication Date

February 2016

Volume

19

Issue

2

Start / End Page

190 / 194

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Terminal Care
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Protestantism
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Health Promotion
  • Gerontology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aged