African Americans (AA) Communities Speak

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Jun 9, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "African Americans (AA) Communities Speak" trial is focused on improving the quality of end-of-life (EoL) care for older African Americans. This study recognizes that many African Americans face challenges in receiving the care they want at the end of life due to cultural differences and historical injustices in healthcare. To address this issue, the trial will develop a training program for healthcare providers, using storytelling videos created by the community to help them understand the unique experiences of African Americans. The goal is to help doctors and nurses communicate better with patients and families about their preferences for EoL care.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be African American, at least 60 years old, and either have a serious illness (like cancer or heart disease) or be a family member who has lost a loved one to such an illness in the past year. Participants will be asked to complete surveys to share their experiences and views on care. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to empower both patients and healthcare providers to ensure that everyone receives compassionate and culturally appropriate care at the end of life.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria: Aim 1.1
• Person with serious Illness:
• • Self-identified as African American (i.e., born, raised, and lived primarily in the US)
• • Non-Hispanic or Latino
• • Age ≥60 years
• • English-speaking
• • Has been diagnosed with a condition that fits into one of 3 illness paradigms including cancer, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, neuro-degenerative disease, renal disease, stroke, sepsis, hepatic disease)
• • Callahan Six-Item Screener score ≥4
• • Able to complete baseline surveys.
• Bereaved family member:
• • Self-identified as African American (i.e., born, raised, and lived primarily in the US)
• • Non-Hispanic or Latino
• • Age ≥60 years
• • English-speaking
• • Loved one dies in the last 12 months and was diagnosed with a condition that fits into one of 3 illness paradigms including cancer, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, neuro- degenerative disease, renal disease, stroke, sepsis, hepatic disease)
• • Callahan Six-Item Screener score ≥4
• • Able to complete baseline surveys.
• • Exclusion Criteria
• Person with serious illness:
• • -Cannot be receiving hospice care
• Bereaved Family Member:
• • -Cannot be a paid "sitter"
• • Inclusion Criteria: Aim 1.2
• Bereaved Family member:
• • Self-identified as African American (i.e., born, raised, and lived primarily in the US)
• • Non-Hispanic or Latino
• • Age ≥60 years
• • English-speaking
• • Loved one dies in the last 12 months and was diagnosed with a condition that fits into one of 3 illness paradigms including cancer, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, neuro- degenerative disease, renal disease, stroke, sepsis, hepatic disease)
• • Callahan Six-Item Screener score ≥4
• • Able to complete baseline surveys
• Pastors:
• • Self-identifying as African American
• • White, Non-Hispanic or Latino
• • Sged ≥18 years old.
• • Inclusion Criteria: Aim 3
• Clinician eligibility:
• • Practice at a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) or Montefiore/Einstein site that provides care to patients eligible for outcomes surveys
• • At least 3 months of clinical practice at the study site prior to the intervention training to measure pre-intervention patient surveys
• Exclusion criteria:
• • -Lack of at least 3 months of clinical practice at the study site prior to the intervention training.
• Patient eligibility:
• • Self-identified as African American (i.e., born, raised, and lived primarily in the US)
• • Non-Hispanic or Latino, 3. age ≥60 years
• • English-speaking
• • Has been diagnosed with a condition that fits into one of 3 illness paradigms including cancer, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease, neuro-degenerative disease, renal disease, stroke, sepsis, hepatic disease)
• • Callahan Six-Item Screener score ≥4
• • Able to complete baseline surveys.
• Exclusion criteria include:
• • -Currently receiving hospice care.
• Family member eligibility:
• • Age ≥ 18 years
• • English-speaking
• • Community-dwelling
• • Unpaid care provider of a person with a serious illness.
• • Exclusion criteria: 1. Cannot be a paid "sitter".