Title: Cultural Variations in Approaches to End of Life (CVAS)

Funded By: National Institutes of Health

Status: Completed

Research Team:
Etienne Phipps, PhD, Principal Investigator
Gala True, PhD, Co-Investigator
Stephen Chavin, MD, Co-Investigator
Diana Harris, MA, Research Coordinator
Natalie Brown, Database Coordinator
Leonard Braitman, PhD, Statistician

Overview: This research investigated differences between and within patients and families around a number of dimensions of care at the end of life. These areas included: the extent to which patients and families want to be involved in decisions about medical care, patient’s views about their own quality of life, caregiver strains and gains from the caregiving experience, and the uses of spirituality and social support in coping.

One hundred and eight patients with advanced lung and colon cancer and their family caregivers were interviewed and followed over the two-year study period. The study examined differences between and within African American and white patients and their families.

Presentations:
Spirituality and religion at end-of-life: A report from The Cultural Variations Study (CVAS) (APHA 2001)
Cultural variations in approaches to end of life care (APHA 2001)

Publications:

Phipps, E., True, G., Harris, D., Braitman, L. Approaching end of life: Attitudes, preferences and behaviors of African American and white patients and their family caregivers. Journal of Clinical Oncology 21(3):1-6:2003.

Phipps, E., Braitman, L., True, G., Harris, D., Tester, W. Family caregiving for patients at life's end: Report from the Cultural Variations Study. Palliative and Supportive Care 2003: 165-170.