Abstract
This project examined the perspectives of hospice care workers on underutilization of hospice services among minority groups. Thirty four respondents consisting of registered nurses, social workers, hospice aides, and chaplains responded to a survey on the study topic. The findings were consistent with the literature review, in that hospice care workers reported members of minority groups as facing barriers in accessing hospice care services due to lack of knowledge of available services, language, cultural and/or religious barriers. Findings also indicate the importance of culturally sensitive care by hospice workers in patient care planning. Respondents who worked as social workers in hospice settings expressed the need for continued education amongst hospice workers as social workers were not required by their agencies to have continued education units, whereas majority of the registered nurses and hospice aides were required to have continued education units. It is recommended that this area needs further provisions for training social workers in concurrence with the NASW standards for palliative and end-of-life care which lists continuing education as a standard requirement for social workers to follow. This is particularly important considering the passage of AB 2747 which is the “Right to Know End-of-Life Options Act.” One of the provisions of this act requires that continued education courses in end-of-life care be required by physicians in California. This provision should be applied to social workers as well since they are an integral part of hospice care and care giving for the elderly.