Examining Readiness for End-of-Life Care Conversations in Predominantly Black Christian Churches

The study’s purpose was to examine the readiness to engage in conversations and to explore the association of faith in God’s control over one’s health and the perceived level of spiritual support from church leaders’ influence on readiness. The study presents descriptive findings and regression analysis results collected from an anonymous online survey questionnaire (Qualtrics). The sample data (N = 73) was collected from October 2023 to January 2024. Findings indicate that the perceived level of spiritual support was a significant predictor of readiness to engage in end-of-life (EOL) conversations. Descriptive findings support the view that a higher level of spiritual support from the church is associated with higher levels of readiness to engage in EOL conversations. The implications of practice and policy are discussed by drawing on the literature and study data. The author proposes ways researchers, practitioners, and policy advocates can support underrepresented communities in EOL planning and advanced care discussions.