Can Community Health Workers Increase Palliative Care Use for African American Patients? A Pilot Study

Authors: Ramy Sedhom, MD, Richard Nudotor, MD, MPH, Karen M. Freund, MD, MPH, Thomas J. Smith, MD, Lisa A. Cooper, MD, MPH, Jill T. Owczarzak, PhD and Fabian M. Johnston, MD, MHS

African American patients with cancer underutilize advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care (PC). This feasibility study investigated whether community health workers (CHWs) could improve ACP and PC utilization for African American patients with advanced cancer. It determined that utilization of CHWs to address PC domains and social determinants of health is feasible. ACP documentation improved from 25% at baseline to 75% at study completion. Sixty-seven percent of patients were referred to PC, with 100% of three decedents using hospice.