Palliative Care Utilization in Hospitalized Adults of Dharmic Religions with Cancer
In an article published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, researchers examined palliative care utilization among hospitalized adults of Dharmic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism) with cancer, a small but rapidly growing religious minority in the United States. While this population had higher palliative care utilization than adults of other religions, findings suggest consultations were triggered by clinical deterioration, rather than religious identity. Qualitative interviews also revealed unmet socio-cultural needs, including preferences for Ayurvedic practices and limited chaplaincy familiarity with Dharmic traditions, underscoring the need for oncology and palliative care teams to address spiritual and cultural values earlier across the cancer trajectory.