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Differences in level of care at the end of life according to race.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Johnson, RW; Newby, LK; Granger, CB; Cook, WA; Peterson, ED; Echols, M; Bride, W; Granger, BB
Published in: Am J Crit Care
July 2010

BACKGROUND: Tailoring care for patients and their families at the end of life is important. PURPOSE: To examine factors associated with patients' choices for level of care at the end of life. METHODS: Data on demographics and level of care (full code, do not resuscitate, or withdrawal of life support) were collected on 1072 patients who died between January 1998 and June 2006 on a cardiac care unit. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with level of care. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) age of blacks was 64 (50-74) years and of whites was 70 (62-78) years. At the time of death, the level of care differed significantly between blacks and whites: 41.8% (n = 112) of blacks versus 26.7% (n = 194) of whites chose full code (P <.001), 37.3% (n = 96) of blacks versus 43.9% (n = 317) of whites chose do not resuscitate (P = .03), and 20.9% (n = 54) of blacks versus 29.3% (n = 210) of whites chose withdrawal of life support (P = .005). After age, sex, diagnosis, and lengths of stay in intensive care unit and hospital were controlled for, blacks were more likely than whites to choose full code status at the time of death (odds ratio 1.91 [95% confidence interval, 2.63-1.39], P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Blacks are 1.9 times as likely as others to choose full code at time of death. Cultural differences should be acknowledged when providing end-of-life care.

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Published In

Am J Crit Care

DOI

EISSN

1937-710X

Publication Date

July 2010

Volume

19

Issue

4

Start / End Page

335 / 343

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Terminal Care
  • Sex Factors
  • Racial Groups
  • Nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Length of Stay
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Demography
 

Citation

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Johnson, R. W., Newby, L. K., Granger, C. B., Cook, W. A., Peterson, E. D., Echols, M., … Granger, B. B. (2010). Differences in level of care at the end of life according to race. Am J Crit Care, 19(4), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2010161
Johnson, Rebecca W., L Kristin Newby, Christopher B. Granger, Wendy A. Cook, Eric D. Peterson, Melvin Echols, Wanda Bride, and Bradi B. Granger. “Differences in level of care at the end of life according to race.Am J Crit Care 19, no. 4 (July 2010): 335–43. https://doi.org/10.4037/ajcc2010161.
Johnson RW, Newby LK, Granger CB, Cook WA, Peterson ED, Echols M, et al. Differences in level of care at the end of life according to race. Am J Crit Care. 2010 Jul;19(4):335–43.
Johnson, Rebecca W., et al. “Differences in level of care at the end of life according to race.Am J Crit Care, vol. 19, no. 4, July 2010, pp. 335–43. Pubmed, doi:10.4037/ajcc2010161.
Johnson RW, Newby LK, Granger CB, Cook WA, Peterson ED, Echols M, Bride W, Granger BB. Differences in level of care at the end of life according to race. Am J Crit Care. 2010 Jul;19(4):335–343.

Published In

Am J Crit Care

DOI

EISSN

1937-710X

Publication Date

July 2010

Volume

19

Issue

4

Start / End Page

335 / 343

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Terminal Care
  • Sex Factors
  • Racial Groups
  • Nursing
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Length of Stay
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Demography