African American and Hispanic patients who underwent pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer appeared less likely than their white counterparts to utilize hospice services more than 3 days before death, according to results of a retrospective study scheduled for presentation at Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium.

“Though barriers to hospice care exist among racial and ethnic minorities, when assessed, hospice services have the potential to facilitate the end of life patients envision,” Anghela Z. Paredes, MD, MS, surgical resident at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, said in a press release. “For patients with life-limiting illnesses, planning or integrating hospice earlier may provide them an opportunity to think about goals and desires for their remaining days and helps them design a care plan that they are more comfortable with.”