TY - JOUR
T1 - Dying in the margins: Understanding palliative care and socioeconomic deprivation in the developed world
AU - Lewis, Joanne
AU - DiGiacomo, Michelle
AU - Currow, David
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - Context: Individuals from low socioeconomic (SE) groups have less resources and poorer health outcomes. Understanding the nature of access to appropriate end-of-life care services for this group is important. Objectives: To evaluate the literature in the developed world for barriers to access for low SE groups. Methods: Electronic databases searched in the review included MEDLINE (1996-2010), CINAHL (1996-2010), PsychINFO (2000-2010), Cochrane Library (2010), and EMBASE (1996-2010). Publications were searched for key terms "socioeconomic disadvantage," "socioeconomic," "poverty," "poor" paired with "end-of-life care," "palliative care," "dying," and "terminal Illness." Articles were analyzed using existing descriptions for dimensions of access to health services, which include availability, affordability, acceptability, and geographical access. Results: A total of 67 articles were identified for the literature review. Literature describing end-of-life care and low SE status was limited. Findings from the review were summarized under the headings for dimensions of access. Conclusion: Low SE groups experience barriers to access in palliative care services. Identification and evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing this disparity is required.
AB - Context: Individuals from low socioeconomic (SE) groups have less resources and poorer health outcomes. Understanding the nature of access to appropriate end-of-life care services for this group is important. Objectives: To evaluate the literature in the developed world for barriers to access for low SE groups. Methods: Electronic databases searched in the review included MEDLINE (1996-2010), CINAHL (1996-2010), PsychINFO (2000-2010), Cochrane Library (2010), and EMBASE (1996-2010). Publications were searched for key terms "socioeconomic disadvantage," "socioeconomic," "poverty," "poor" paired with "end-of-life care," "palliative care," "dying," and "terminal Illness." Articles were analyzed using existing descriptions for dimensions of access to health services, which include availability, affordability, acceptability, and geographical access. Results: A total of 67 articles were identified for the literature review. Literature describing end-of-life care and low SE status was limited. Findings from the review were summarized under the headings for dimensions of access. Conclusion: Low SE groups experience barriers to access in palliative care services. Identification and evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing this disparity is required.
KW - dimensions of access
KW - end-of-life care
KW - health literacy
KW - palliative care
KW - poor
KW - provider-patient interaction
KW - Socioeconomic deprivation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960143250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.10.265
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2010.10.265
M3 - Review article
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 42
SP - 105
EP - 118
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
IS - 1
ER -