Abstract

Blacks and African Americans have the highest mortality rates of any racial or ethnic group, yet they are less likely to complete advanced directives in the United States. This systematic review examines the current literature on facilitators and barriers associated with end-of-life planning and faith-based health promotion in Black and African American religious communities. The following databases were used to explore the literature: SCOPUS, PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Social Work Abstracts, Web of Science, Black Studies Center, and APA PsycArticles. The articles obtained from database searches were reviewed; ultimately, twenty-two were included in the analysis. This systematic review found that faith-based health promotion for end-of-life planning is an effective strategy for engaging Black Americans in discussing end-of-life care despite Black and African Americans’ preference for treatment. By implementing faith-based health promotion in churches, Black Americans are more likely to engage in end-of-life care discussions and complete advanced directives, enhancing their quality of life as they age.