NYMC Faculty Publications
The Effects of the Palliative Medicine Consultation on the DNR Status of African Americans in a Safety-Net Hospital
Author Type(s)
Faculty
DOI
10.1177/1049909112450941
Journal Title
The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
First Page
363
Last Page
369
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2013
Department
Health Behavior and Community Health
Keywords
Advance Directives, Black or African American, Aged, Communication, Critical Illness, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, New York City, Palliative Care, Poverty Areas, Prognosis, Referral and Consultation, Resuscitation Orders, Retrospective Studies
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of palliative medicine consultation on completion of advance directives/do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders by racial/ethnic minorities.
METHOD: A sample of 1999 seriously ill African American and Hispanic inpatients was obtained from the Palliative Medicine Consultation database (n = 2972). Associations between race/ethnicity and diagnosis and documentation of DNR status on admission and discharge were examined.
RESULTS: Cancer was the primary diagnosis, 34.5%. Among patients with a consultation, 98% agreed to discuss advance directives; 65% of African Americans and 70% of Hispanics elected DNR status. Inpatient deaths were 46%; 74% of decedents agreed to DNR orders. Discharged patients referred to hospice were 29%.
CONCLUSION: Palliative medicine consultations resulted in timely completion of DNR orders and were positively associated with DNR election and hospice enrollment.
Recommended Citation
Sacco, J., Deravin Carr, D. R., & Viola, D. (2013). The Effects of the Palliative Medicine Consultation on the DNR Status of African Americans in a Safety-Net Hospital. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 30 (4), 363-369. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909112450941
