Andrya Rivera-Burciaga

Andrya Rivera-Burciaga

Discipline: Nurse Practitioner
Funding awarded to: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Using a Community-Based Participatory Approach to Explore the Attitudes, Perceptions, Experiences, and Needs of Mexican Americans with Serious Illness through Pláticas

Healthcare disparities are well documented among Hispanics; however, the literature regarding disparities in palliative and end-of-life care is sparse, especially among Mexican Americans. Cultural perspectives are critical in identifying how ethnic and racial minorities seek, use, and approach palliative and end-of-life care. The proposed project will use a community-based approach for a qualitative study to explore the attitudes, perceptions, experiences, and needs of Mexican Americans in the Rio Grande Valley living with a serious illness. Using pláticas and pláticas intimas will allow an opportunity to gather in-depth, contextually rich data that can be analyzed to generate insights into the project's purpose. The project's long-term objective is to create a well-equipped network of Mexican American stakeholders, community partners, and experts in the field of hospice and palliative care to create culturally specific and appropriate resources for Mexican-Americans living with serious illnesses nationally.

With the proposed project completion, mentorship, and leadership development, I will contribute to decreasing healthcare disparities among Mexican Americans. This esteemed opportunity will give the Rio Grande Valley increased access to palliative care, such as what currently exists in other places across the country. This is what I strive to address through the Sojourns Scholar Leadership program. My goal is to gain the capacity to connect with palliative care peers and recognized experts in the field nationally to address barriers and participate in creating solutions for Mexican Americans in the Rio Grande Valley. I seek to cultivate my skills to be an influential voice for Hispanics with serious illness and want to lead positive change in addressing healthcare disparities among Hispanics, specifically among Mexican Americans. My goal is to be recognized as a valuable palliative care leader in clinical practice, research, and advocacy.