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Church leaders and parishioners speak out about the role of the church in advance care planning and end-of-life care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2020

Danetta Hendricks Sloan Open the ORCID record for Danetta Hendricks Sloan [Opens in a new window] ,
Tamryn F. Gray Open the ORCID record for Tamryn F. Gray [Opens in a new window] ,
Darriel Harris ,
Theodora Peters ,
Anne Belcher ,
Rebecca Aslakson  and
Janice Bowie
Danetta Hendricks Sloan*
Affiliation:
Assistant Scientist, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Tamryn F. Gray
Affiliation:
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Darriel Harris
Affiliation:
Graduate Student, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Theodora Peters
Affiliation:
Marketing Outreach Coordinator, Eldercare Plus, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
Anne Belcher
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Education, Baltimore, MD
Rebecca Aslakson
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Palliative Care Section, Division of Primary Care & Population Health, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Janice Bowie
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
*
Author for correspondence: Danetta Sloan, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N Broadway 904E, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. E-mail: dhendr11@jhu.edu
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Abstract

Objective

Despite the increased focus on improving advance care planning (ACP) in African Americans through community partnerships, little published research focused on the role of the African American church in this effort. This study examines parishioner perceptions and beliefs about the role of the church in ACP and end-of-life care (EOLC).

Method

Qualitative interviews were completed with 25 church members (parishioners n = 15, church leader n = 10). The coding of data entailed a direct content analysis approach incorporating team experts for final themes.

Results

Seven themes emerged: (1) church role on end-of-life, (2) advocacy for health and well-being, (3) health literacy in EOLC, (4) lay health training on ACP and EOLC, (5) church recognized as a trusted source, (6) use of church ministries to sustain programs related to ACP and EOLC, and (7) community resources for EOLC needs.

Significance of results

The church has a central role in the African American Community. These findings suggest that involving African American churches in ACP and EOLC training can have a positive effect on facilitating planning and care during illness, dying, and death for their congregants.

Keywords

African American ChurchDisparities in end-of-life careEnd-of-life carePalliative care
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 322 - 328
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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