Cultural competence in hospice.

Research shows that ethnic minorities access hospice care significantly less often than Caucasians. In part, this has been attributed to the lack of cultural competence among hospice staff. To assess cultural competence among hospice workers, this article evaluates the results of a descriptive, exploratory survey that was submitted to 125 interdisciplinary hospice employees and completed by 113 of those employees. Cultural-competence behavior scores varied widely based on two factors: increased education and previous cultural-diversity training. The results of this study provide information regarding cultural competence in hospice. In their efforts to provide culturally appropriate end-of-life care, hospices can use the information in this study to implement intervention plans aimed at increasing cultural competence among hospice staff.