Barriers to Hospice Referral in an Inner City Medical Center (S721)

Abstract

Objectives 1. Describe methods for using Facebook ads in research. 2. Discuss results of a Facebook ad campaign for parents of children with cancer. 3. Discuss implications for future research and practice. Background. Studies involving children with life-threatening illnesses face significant challenges, including inadequate sample sizes and limited diversity. Social media recruitment may be one effective strategy to address such challenges but has not been tested in pediatric palliative care populations. Research Objectives. To examine the feasibility of using Facebook to recruit parents of children with cancer. Methods. Researchers used Facebook advertising to recruit parents of children with cancer to complete an electronic survey about research preferences. Participants were 18 years of age or up and legal guardians of children currently living with cancer. The ad ran from June 19 to August 31, 2012. The ad targeted age (18 years and up), location (United States), language (English), and childhood cancer interest terms (e.g., childhood cancer).

Barriers to Hospice Care in Trauma Patients: The Disparities in End-of-Life Care

“…This analysis shows that despite efforts to promote and improve access for end-of-life referrals, enormous racial disparities are prevalent in the trauma system separate from significant socioeconomic inequalities. 25,26 Additionally, this analysis demonstrates that for those uninsured and minority population who do receive hospice care, there is a delay in transfer to hospice when compared to their insured, Caucasian counterparts. Patient and surrogate decision maker preference likely plays an important role in the choices surrounding transfer to hospice.…”