Impact of Patient and Caregiver Beliefs on Utilization of Hospice and Palliative Care in Diverse Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer.

This study evaluates the impact of patient and caregiver beliefs about hospice care (HC) and palliative care (PC) on the subsequent utilization of these services among racially and ethnically diverse patients with advanced lung cancer. In a prospective cohort of 43 patient-caregiver dyads, minoritized patients (Black and/or Latino) held more negative beliefs about HC/PC but were more likely to use these services compared to non-Hispanic White patients. The level of agreement in HC/PC beliefs between patients and caregivers was lower among minoritized dyads, yet neither caregiver beliefs nor patient-caregiver belief agreement predicted HC/PC utilization. The findings suggest complex factors influence HC/PC use in diverse populations, highlighting the need for further research to understand drivers of equitable access to supportive oncology care.