The majority of existing research has examined misperceptions in various patient populations. In addition to low knowledge levels of palliative and hospice care, negative misperceptions can adversely affect individuals’ receptivity to these services. Ascertaining this information could help to identify important targets for public education initiatives. 20, 24– 26 However, few studies have examined specific key components of palliative and hospice care that community-dwelling adults are either aware or unaware of. 22, 23 Multiple studies have also found that patients and caregivers considering hospice are often unaware of basic information about hospice care such as how it is delivered and paid for. 19– 21 Two large surveys of community-dwelling adults found that over 70% of participants self-reported low to no knowledge of palliative care. Multiple factors contribute to the underutilization of palliative and hospice services, one of which is individuals’ lack of knowledge about these services. 17, 18 With the number of Americans living with serious illnesses expected to double in the coming years, 10 promoting access to and utilization of palliative and hospice care services is increasingly important. 14, 15 Among patients admitted to the hospital, fewer than 5% are seen by a palliative care team 16 and less than half of all individuals who die in the United States receive hospice care. 11, 13 Despite the many documented benefits of palliative and hospice care, both types of care remain underutilized among patient populations critically in need of these forms of care. 11, 12 Hospice care is a type of palliative care for patients in the last 6 months of life, and it cannot be delivered concurrently with curative treatment.
9, 10 Palliative care aims to address the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of patients living with serious illnesses with the goal of improving their quality of life. Palliative and hospice care have been associated with improved patient symptom control 1– 3 and quality of life 4– 8 as well as increased satisfaction with care.