Mistrust Reported by US Mexicans With Cancer at End of Life and Hospice Enrollment

Abstract

Hospice research with Hispanics mostly focuses on cultural barriers. Mindful of social justice and structural violence, we used critical grounded theory in a postcolonial theory framework to develop a grounded theory of hospice decision making in US Mexicans with terminal cancer. Findings suggest that hospice avoidance is predicted by mistrust, rather than culture, whereas hospice enrollers felt a sense of belonging. Cultural accommodation may do little to mitigate hospice avoidance rooted in discrimination-fueled mistrust. Future research with nondominant populations should employ research designs mitigating Eurocentric biases. Policy makers should consider concurrent therapy for nondominant populations with low trust in the health care system.