Implications for Research
More research needs to be done to understand the supportive service needs of African American cancer survivors and their caregivers. Services such as, but not limited to, home health care, visiting nursing agencies, and hospice may need to more effectively target this underserved population. Research suggests that African Americans are less likely to use hospice services when compared with whites. Research on effective culturally appropriate strategies to enhance knowledge of and access to these services is needed. Furthermore, research on the availability of community-based resources to support in-home caregiving should be conducted. Inquiry regarding policy or advocacy issues to support payment or continuation of community-based resources may be needed. Lastly, as pointed out by Reinhard et al, caregiving is ongoing and changes from day to day. African American caregivers may face unique barriers to care that have not been articulated. Hence, longitudinal studies may provide additional insights into the caregiver role for this population beyond single, cross-sectional designs.