Attitudes toward end-of-life care and preferred death locations: A latent profile analysis

Older adults' attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) care significantly affect its utilization. This study explored latent profiles of EOL care attitudes, their characteristics, and relations to prefer death locations among 498 Chinese community-dwelling adults aged 50 and above. Exploratory factor analysis identified four distinct dimensions of EOL care attitudes: "life reflection and legacy," "physical comfort and pain management," "autonomy and decision-making," and "spiritual and religious comfort." Latent profile analysis revealed four latent profiles: "holistic preparers" (40.04%), "physical comfort-focused individuals" (36.11%), "passive respondents" (14.66%), and "autonomy and spiritual-comfort seekers" (9.19%). Factors such as religious belief, education, chronic disease, exposure to cancer death, and caregiving experience predicted latent profile membership. Participants in different latent profiles showed significant differences in preferred death locations, with home and hospital being the most favored places. These findings highlight the diverse attitudes and preferences toward EOL care, providing insights for individualized EOL care planning and resource allocation.

Cultural Adaptation and Pilot Testing of a Basic Palliative Care Curriculum for Practicing Physicians and Nurses in Mainland China

Background: To meet the growing palliative care (PC) needs of China's aging population, we culturally adapted and pilot tested an evidence-based basic PC training program for practicing clinicians. Design: Barrera's framework guided a multistage, surface, and deep structural adaptation of an existing course. We pilot tested the final curricula with 51 participants in September 2022. Participant demographics and postcourse satisfaction survey were descriptively analyzed. Results: A total of 20 nurses and 29 physicians completed the course and instruments. Majority of participants were between 31 and 50 years old (n = 39, 79.6%), female (n = 41, 83.7%), internal medicine trained (n = 30, 61.2%), and worked in tertiary hospitals (n = 47, 95.9). Most participants considered the course quality to be "high" or "very high" (n = 47, 95.9%). Conclusions: Practicing physicians and nurses in mainland China consider this culturally adapted basic PC training to be feasible and acceptable. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of PC training and develop strategies to overcome implementation challenges.

Attitudes toward palliative care among cancer patients: a multi-method study

Background

Palliative care plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for cancer patients, particularly those in advanced stages of the disease. Despite its proven benefits, attitudes toward palliative care vary widely among patients due to cultural beliefs, personal values, and awareness of available services. Understanding cancer patients' perspectives on palliative care is essential for enhancing end-of-life care strategies and ensuring that interventions align with their preferences. However, limited research has explored patients' attitudes toward palliative care in China, highlighting the need for further investigation.

Objectives

To explore the current status of cancer patients' palliative care attitudes, identify subgroups of attitudes and examine influencing factors for different subgroups; and understand the cancer patients' perceptions of palliative care.

Methods

A multi-method design was used. 541 cancer patients participated from March to June 2024. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify subgroups. The differences between the variables including sociodemographic characteristics and subgroups were explored, and participants also responded to open-ended questions about what perceptions on palliative care, and content analysis identified themes most frequently reported.

Results

Palliative care attitudes among cancer patients were low. Four different subgroups of palliative care attitudes and three themes about perspectives were confirmed. Education status, occupational status, primary caregivers, type of insurance, cancer stage, anxiety, and level of palliative care knowledge were significant factors affecting different groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Majority of cancer patients had poor attitudes toward palliative care, confirming the major factors and perspectives of palliative care. These results emphasize the importance that should be given to the dissemination of knowledge and education about palliative care for cancer patients, and to improve the acceptance and recognition in order to promote palliative care practice.

Core competency in palliative care among intensive care unit nurses: A latent profile analysis

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses play a leading role in integrating palliative care into ICU practices, which requires them to possess professional and comprehensive palliative care core competencies.

AIM

To explore the current status of ICU nurses' palliative care core competency and to examine the factors influencing different subgroups of core competency.

STUDY DESIGN

A quantitative, cross-sectional study. A random sampling of 342 ICU nurses from five hospitals participated in this study from March to April 2024. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify subgroups based on the Palliative Care Nurses' Core Competences (PCNCC) scale. Differences between the variables, including sociodemographic characteristics, autonomous learning capacity, job satisfaction and subgroups, were explored using multivariate logistic regression. This cross-sectional study used the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

The mean score for palliative care core competency among ICU nurses was (58.96 ± 21.56). There were three different subgroups of palliative care core competency, namely, the 'low palliative care core competency group (31.2%)', the 'medium palliative care core competency group (47.2%)' and the 'low palliative care core competency group (21.6%)'. Professional title (odds ratio [OR] = 0.161, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.038-0.673, p = .012), position (OR = 0.111, 95% CI: 0.013-0.975, p = .047), work experiences (OR = 0.169, 95% CI: 0.030-0.965, p = .046) and autonomous learning capacity (OR = 3.298, 95% CI: 1.390-7.822, p = .007) were significant factors affecting the medium-level group, while position (OR = 0.101, 95% CI: 0.011-0.918, p = .042) and autonomous learning capacity (OR = 3.878, 95% CI: 1.447-10.396, p = .007) significantly influenced the low-level group.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of ICU nurses were categorized in the low and medium-level palliative care core competency group; professional title, position, work experience and autonomous learning capacity were the main influencing factors.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

ICU nurses should receive specific knowledge and training on palliative care, especially young nurses with limited work experience. Nursing managers and educators should provide targeted intervention strategies for nurses with different autonomous learning capacities to improve their core competencies in palliative care.

Self-reported knowledge and difficulties towards palliative care among healthcare professionals in rural China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Palliative care (PC) in rural China remains underdeveloped, with limited specialized services and significant challenges for healthcare professionals. This study aimed to examine the difficulties in providing PC and their factors from the perspective of healthcare professionals in rural Henan province, China, where specific PC services are currently unavailable.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2024, using a convenience sample of 255 healthcare professionals from four secondary/tertiary hospitals participated. Data were collected on participants' demographic characteristics, information on recently deceased cancer patients they had cared for, and PC-related information. PC knowledge and PC difficulties were assessed using the Palliative Care Knowledge Questionnaire-Chinese version (PCKQ-PCN) and the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale (PCDS). Linear regression analysis identified factors associated with PC difficulties.

RESULTS

Among the 255 participants (Mean[age]: 34.82 ± 7.04), 71.8% were females, 57.3% were physicians, and the average work experience was 10.20 years. Regarding PC experience, 48.2% had participated in 1-2 training sessions annually over the past two years, and 32.2% reported a poor understanding of PC. The total PCKQ-PCN mean score was 13.28 ± 2.62, with 25.2% of participants classified as having poor knowledge. The PCDS mean score was 42.58 ± 13.59. Linear regression analysis showed that participating in at least one PC training session every six months (β = -10.66; p = 0.032), having experience caring for seriously ill people at home (β =  -6.31; p = 0.024), greater knowledge of symptom management (β = -3.72; p = 0.012), and higher levels of basic knowledge (β = -5.12; p = 0.007) were negatively associated with PC difficulties. Conversely, limited understanding of PC (β = 12.95; p = 0.021), greater knowledge of spiritual care and death education (β = 4.95; p = 0.034), and having new rural cooperative medical insurance (β = 6.36; p = 0.023; β = 3.21; p = 0.042) were positively associated with PC difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights critical gaps in rural China's PC services, including inadequate training, limited focus on spiritual needs and death education, and disparities in insurance coverage. Targeted training programs in healthcare professionals and policy reforms are urgently needed to improve PC quality and accessibility in rural areas.

Moral distress, attitude toward death, and palliative care core competencies among ICU nurses: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Palliative care is becoming more widely acknowledged as a crucial part of intensive care for all patients with life-threatening illnesses. Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses regard as a lead role to facilitate this integration, which require nurses to possess professional and comprehensive core competencies. However, there is little knowledge about the palliative care core competencies among ICU nurses.

AIMS

To explore the association of moral distress, attitude toward death, and palliative care core competencies of ICU nurses, and explore the mediating role of attitude toward death.

METHODS

This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study. Random cluster sampling method was used. 342 ICU nurses were selected from 5 hospitals across 4 provinces in China. Participants were evaluated using the Moral Distress Scale-revised (MDS-R), the Attitude toward Death Profile-Revised (DAP-R), and the Palliative Care Nurses' Core Competencies Scale (PCNCC). This study followed the STROBE statement.

RESULTS

The level of palliative care core competencies among ICU nurses is moderate. Moral distress and negative attitude toward death are negatively associated while positive attitude toward death is positively associated with core competencies in palliative care among ICU nurses. Attitude toward death partially mediates the relationship between moral distress and core competencies.

CONCLUSION

Link between moral distress, attitude toward death, and palliative care core competencies among ICU nurses was found in this study.

Reliability and validity of the Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care Scale among nurses

OBJECTIVES

To provide appropriate palliative care, nurses should have appropriate level of self-efficacy in palliative care, but the levels among nurses were low. To improve the levels effectively, self-efficacy in palliative care should be assessed using reliable and valid instruments. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care Scale in Korean nurses.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional, observational study, 272 nurses (mean age: 30 years) were enrolled from 6 university-affiliated medical centers or community hospitals in South Korea. Data on self-efficacy and demographic characteristics were collected. Validity was assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (SPSS and Mplus). Reliability and homogeneity were assessed by Cronbach's alpha and item analyses (SPSS), respectively.

RESULTS

The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the 4-factor structure (communication, assessment and symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual management of patient and family, and multiprofessional teamworking) with factor loadings >.60 and with good model fit: root mean square error of approximation =.07, Tucker-Lewis index =.94, comparative fit index =.95, and standardized root mean square residual =.04. Cronbach's alphas for the total scale and each of the subscales ranged from .883 to .965. The corrected item-total correlation coefficients of all items ranged from .61 to .90.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

The findings of this study supported the reliability and validity of this instrument among Korean nurses. This instrument can be used to assess nurses' self-efficacy in palliative care and to test intervention effects on it.

The Chinese Version of the Palliative Nursing Care Quality Scale: Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validity

BACKGROUND

Nurses play an important role in palliative care, and high-quality assessment tools can help standardize palliative-related nursing behaviors, but there are no such tools in China.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to revise, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Palliative Nursing Care Quality Scale (PNCQS) to provide an effective tool that can help nurses in mainland China assess the quality of palliative care.

METHODS

This study involved a 2-steps process. First, the PNCQS was translated, back-translated, and cross-cultural adapted using Brislin's translation model. Second, a cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the revised scale. From January to February 2023, 367 nurses engaged in palliative care-related nursing from 3 tertiary A general hospitals were surveyed with the revised scale. The evaluation methods used in this study included item analysis, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, criterion-related validity, content validity, and construct validity.

RESULTS

The PNCQS-Chinese included 20 items. In this study, the item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.67 to 0.83 (P < .01), and the critical ratio value of the items was 12.10 to 23.34 (P < .01). The scale-level content validity index was 0.98, and the item-level content validity ranged from 0.86 to 1.00. The total Cronbach's α and test-retest reliability of the scale were 0.96 and 0.79, respectively. Factor analysis of 20 items extracted 1 factor, and the contribution rate of cumulative variance was 60.03%.

CONCLUSIONS

PNCQS-Chinese shows acceptable validity and reliability for assessing the quality of palliative care-related nursing in mainland China.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal) in Patients With Advanced Cancer

CONTEXT

The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal) has been widely used in assessing the quality of life (QOL) of patients with life-limiting illness. However, the Chinese version of the FACIT-Pal has not been psychometrically validated yet.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to psychometrically validate the FACIT-Pal in Chinese patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

160 patients with advanced cancer in mainland China participated in this cross-sectional study. The scalability of the instrument was determined by the item-total correlations and the reliability was tested by examining the Cronbach's alpha coefficients. The construct and concurrent validity of the FACIT-Pal were also examined.

RESULTS

The item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.25 to 0.72 (P < .01). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Chinese version of the FACIT-Pal was 0.94, ranging from 0.78 to 0.89 for subscales. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results provided support for the measurement structure of the 26-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the 19-item palliative care subscale identified five factors accounting for 62.21% of the total variance. Total/subscale scores of the FACIT-Pal were positively correlated with that of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being 12 Item Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) (r = 0.338-0.811, P < .01), as well as with the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores (r = 0.163-0.273, P < .05), except for the correlation between social/family well-being subscale score and KPS score.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese version of the FACIT-Pal demonstrates desirable psychometric properties for evaluating QOL in Chinese patients with advanced cancer.

The Current Status of Bereavement Care in Chinese Emergency Departments: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Understanding the current status and challenges of bereavement care will help facilitate the development of bereavement care in the emergency department. However, little is known about the status of bereavement care in Chinese emergency departments and nurses' perceptions of bereavement care. We used a self-made questionnaire to survey 124 head nurses and 870 emergency nurses in 21 hospitals in Jiangsu Province in September 2023. Among 124 emergency departments, 78 (62.90%) emergency departments provided bereavement care strategies, and the most frequent strategy was a waiting room, relevant information on funeral arrangements and the establishment of a relatively secluded environment conducive to the solace of the patient's family, or the provision of a dedicated farewell chamber. Emergency nurses believed that bereavement care is important but difficult to implement, with support resources, environment and human resources being the main challenges. In the future, further attention should be paid to the development of bereavement care in the emergency department, and the implementation of bereavement care should be supported in terms of policies, funds, resources and personnel.

Association Between Primary Decision-Maker and Care Intensity Among Patients With Advanced Cancer in Mainland China

Purpose: In China, decisions regarding the treatment of seriously ill patients are usually made by family caregivers. This study aimed to explore the association between the primary decision-makers and the intensity of care given to patients with advanced cancer in China. Methods: We conducted a survey of family members and other caregivers representing 828 cancer patients who died between July 2013 and July 2016. The survey asked: "After the physician conveyed that the disease is incurable, what treatment did the patient and caregiver prefer?" and "Who was the primary decision-maker?" We compared the treatment intensity with locus of decision-making using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for socio-demographic and clinical covariates informed. Results: Of the 792 patients in our sample, the majority were male (67·2%), 60 years or older (64·0%), married (82·2%), lived with family (98·2%), had medical insurance (94·8%), earned below-average income (53·5%), lived rurally (61·5%), had a gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis (50·8%), experienced moderate or severe pain (86·3%), never received palliative care (80·4%) and had caregivers as primary decision-makers (70·6%). We found that patients were more likely to receive intensive disease-modifying treatments when the primary decision-maker were their children (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1·86, 95% CI:1·26-2·74), spouse (AOR = 2·04, 95% CI:1·26-3·30), or other caregivers (AOR = 3·46, 95% CI:1·24-9·69). Conclusions: When patients with advanced cancer in China did not make their own medical decisions, they were more likely to receive intensive disease-modifying treatments at the end-of-life. Actions should be taken to better understand and ensure that caregivers' decisions reflect the values and presence of patients.

Comparison of functional disabilities, place of death and end-of-life medical expenditures among centenarians and non-centenarians in China: a series of cross-sectional studies

BACKGROUND

Long-term and end-of-life (EOL) care for older adults has become a global concern due to extended longevity, which is generally accompanied by increased rates of disability. However, differences in the rates of disability in activities of daily living (ADLs), place of death and medical expenditures during the last year of life between centenarians and non-centenarians in China remain unknown. This study aims to fill this research gap to inform policy efforts for the capacity-building of long-term and EOL care for the oldest-old, especially for centenarians in China.

METHODS

Data from 20,228 decedents were derived from the 1998-2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Weighted logistic and Tobit regression models were used to estimate differences in the prevalence of functional disability, rate of death in hospitals and EOL medical expenditures by age groups among oldest-old individuals.

RESULTS

Of the 20,228 samples, 12,537 oldest-old individuals were female (weighted, 58.6%, hereafter); 3,767 were octogenarians, 8,260 were nonagenarians, and 8,201 were centenarians. After controlling for other covariates, nonagenarians and centenarians experienced a greater prevalence of full dependence (average marginal differences [95% CI]: 2.7% [0%, 5.3%]; 3.8% [0.3%, 7.9%]) and partial dependence (6.9% [3.4%, 10.3%]; 15.1% [10.5%, 19.8%]) but a smaller prevalence of partial independence (-8.9% [-11.6%, -6.2%]; -16.0% [-19.1%, -12.8%]) in ADLs than octogenarians. Nonagenarians and centenarians were less likely to die in hospitals (-3.0% [-4.7%, -1.2%]; -4.3% [-6.3%, -2.2%]). Additionally, nonagenarians and centenarians reported more medical expenditures during the last year of life than octogenarians with no statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSION

The oldest-old experienced an increased prevalence of full and partial dependence in ADLs with increasing age and reported a decline in the prevalence of full independence. Compared with octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians were less likely to die in hospitals. Therefore, future policy efforts are warranted to optimise the service provision of long-term and EOL care by age patterns for the oldest-old population in China.

Preferences for end-of-life care: A cross-sectional survey of Chinese frail nursing home residents

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

To assess (1) the experience, knowledge and preferences of end-of-life care among frail nursing home residents and (2) the preferences of residents' family caregivers.

BACKGROUND

Globally, nursing homes are becoming an important place where many older people will receive their end-of-life care. Thus, assessing the end-of-life care preferences among nursing home residents is crucial.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

Residents aged ≥65 years, with frail or pre-frail status (n = 286) in 34 nursing homes were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the outcomes and regression analyses were used to evaluate factors related to the outcomes. Kappa statistics were used to examine the agreement between the preferences among 21 residents and their family caregivers. The manuscript was guided by the STROBE checklist.

RESULTS

5.9% and 10.5% of the participants had heard of advance care planning and advance directive respectively. After explanations of the terms by the research team, 42.3% of the participants preferred advance care planning, whereas 22.0% preferred advance directive. The top reason for not preferring advance care planning/advance directive is perceiving them as 'not necessary'. Nursing homes were the most preferred place to receive end-of-life care (41.6%). Whereas hospitals were the most preferred place for death (36.0%). The agreement among resident and family caregiver dyads ranged from none to minimal in most outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the lack of awareness around advance care planning and advance directive among frail nursing home residents. Future research should focus on developing effective educational interventions to enhance the residents' awareness of these topics.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

To increase awareness among nursing home residents, more educational programs should be implemented. Frail older residents might not see the relevance of advance care planning; interventions need to include both current and future care to increase its relevance.

The impact of death attitudes on death education needs among medical and nursing students

BACKGROUND

Medical and nursing students will play an essential role in delivering palliative care in the future. Death education is important in preparing them for future palliative care, however, little is known about students education needs and how death attitudes affect such needs in Mainland China.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this survey was to investigate the death education needs of medical and nursing students and to evaluate the impact of death attitudes on death education needs.

DESIGN

Multi-center, cross-sectional survey.

SETTINGS

Fourteen medical and nursing colleges & universities in Hunan, Sichuan, Liaoning, Guangdong, Shandong, and Shanxi provinces in China.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 1044 medical and nursing students from six provinces.

METHODS

In this multi-center cross-sectional study, all data were collected through an online questionnaire that included demographic information and questions on death-related experiences. In addition, the Death Attitude Profile-Revised and the Death Education Needs Scale were used to evaluate students' death attitudes and death education needs , respectively.

RESULTS

The students had a mean death education needs score of 38.85 ± 7.25 (range: 10-50), yet only 20.9 % of them had received palliative care-related training. Being female (B:3.869, 95 % CI:2.849-4.889), fear of death (B:0.119, 95 % CI:0.005-0.232), and neutral acceptance (B:0.787, 95 % CI:0.638-0.936) were associated with higher death education needs, while death avoidance (B: -0.226, 95 % CI: -0.368 ~ -0.083), approach acceptance (B: -0.126, 95 % CI: -0.215 ~ -0.036), and escape acceptance (B: -0.198, 95 % CI: -0.322 ~ -0.073) were associated with lower death education needs.

CONCLUSIONS

The high level of death education needs and low training rate in palliative care among medical and nursing students in mainland China indicates a gap that needs to be addressed. Students' death education needs were affected by gender and death attitudes, which provides implications for the future development of palliative care training models.

Confidence in carrying out palliative care among intensive care nurses

BACKGROUND

Nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) play a crucial role in providing palliative care. Effective provision of palliative care in the ICU requires nurses' active engagement, yet little is known about the confidence for palliative care that ICU nurses hold in China.

AIM

To explore confidence in performing palliative care among ICU nurses in China and factors related to nurses' level of confidence.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was implemented.

METHODS

This study utilized convenience sampling to recruit ICU nurses from nine hospitals in Wuhan, China. Data were collected via an online survey. Multiple regression was conducted to identify the predictors of the ICU nurses' confidence in performing palliative care.

RESULTS

A total of 231 ICU nurses participated in the study, resulting in a response rate of 78% (231/296). Participants reported a relatively low level of confidence for carrying out palliative care (mean score = 2.60 ± 0.53; range = 1-4). Nurses who had more positive attitudes toward palliative care communication (P < .001), higher levels of formal training on palliative care (P < .001), more years of working as an ICU nurse (P < .05) and those working in integrated ICU (P < .001) showed a higher level of confidence in carrying out palliative care.

CONCLUSION

Participants' lack of confidence in performing palliative care makes for increased challenges, particularly in uncertainty about family assessments, palliative care discussions and lack of palliative care training. Strengthening palliative care curricula in nursing education and professional training is imperative to enhance ICU nurses' confidence.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Strengthening palliative care education and training, particularly in relation to palliative care communication, is critical. Implementing and tailoring culturally relevant palliative care call for attention to practice and for policy changes in palliative care delivery in China.

Hospice preference of the family decision-makers for cancer patients in China: an exploratory study

BACKGROUND

The reasons for hospice underuse in China need exploration from the perspective of patients with cancer and their families. Furthermore, existing literature about hospice decision-making among Chinese families with cancer patients is limited. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of hospice care among families with cancer patients, their preference for healthcare at the end-of-life stage of care, and the predictors of hospice preference.

METHODS

This was an exploratory study conducted between July 2021 and January 2022. Overall, 300 decision-makers of cancer patients were recruited from the oncology ward of seven hospitals in Shanghai, China. Of these, 285 valid responses were included in the data analysis. A self-developed questionnaire about their preference for healthcare when the patient was at the end-of-life stage was completed. Descriptive analysis, t-test, chi-square test, and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Only 46.0% of the participants have heard of hospice care. Most participants (78.2%) reported no introduction to hospice care from their doctors. More than half of the participants (58.2%) did not have a preference for healthcare at the end-of-life stage. Seventy-eight (65.5%) of the 119 participants who had a preference chose hospice care, and the other 41 participants (34.5%) refused hospice care. Having heard of hospice care had a significant impact on preferring healthcare at the end-of-life stage (adjusted OR = 14.346, 95%CI 7.219-28.509, p < 0.001). Not being sure whether the doctor introduced hospice care before had a significant impact on having no preference for healthcare at the end-of-life stage (adjusted OR = 0.180, 95%CI 0.052-0.617, p = 0.006). Another family member being cared for at home had a significant impact on the participants' hospice preference (adjusted OR = 2.739, 95%CI 1.159-6.470, p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

The end-of-life communication between healthcare providers and the families of cancer patients is insufficient. More efforts should be made in increasing the awareness of hospice care among patients with cancer and their families. Further study is needed to explore the reasons for a lack of discussion on hospice options between healthcare providers and the patients' families. Additionally, the impact of the at-home care burden on the hospice choice of families with cancer patients requires further study.

Palliative care for patients with glioma: A recent scientometric analysis of the Web of Science in 2022

Background

Patients with glioma present with complex palliative care needs throughout their disease trajectory. A scientometric analysis is effective and widely used to summarize the most influential studies within a certain field. We present the first scientometric analysis of palliative care for patients with glioma.

Methods

Based on a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) principle, we conducted a generalized search for articles on palliative care for glioma in the Web of Science database and evaluated the top 100 most frequently cited articles among 2,542 articles.

Results

The number of citations for the top 100 cited articles on palliative care for glioma ranged from 10 to 223. We have a narrative conclusion, as follows: most of these articles were published in oncology-specific journals (n = 53) and palliative-specific journals (n = 22). The United States, Australia, and the Netherlands were the top three countries contributing most of the articles (n = 59). Most of the research methods were quantitative analyses, qualitative analyses, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses (n = 70). In quantitative studies, 66 scales were used, and the top three scales used included the following: the Distress Thermometer, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain Index (FACT-Br), and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). The articles were classified into six major categories based on research subjects, including patients (n = 44), caregivers (n = 16), patients and caregivers (n = 20), literature (n = 19), and healthcare providers (n = 1). Articles were classified into seven major categories based on research themes: quality of life (n = 11); end-of-life symptoms and care (n = 16); palliative and supportive care needs (n = 35); advance care planning and decision making (n = 4); psychological, social, and spiritual needs (n = 12); hospice utilization and referral (n = 3); and others (n = 19). The studies of the primary topic are correlated with the number of citations.

Conclusions

The results of the analysis indicated that patients diagnosed with glioma present a high variety of palliative care needs, including physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. The caregiver's burden and needs are important as well. The proportion of quantitative analyses, qualitative analyses, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses is relatively high, but the number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was low. End-of-life care and supportive care needs appeared frequently. Thus, palliative care is an urgent need to be addressed in glioma management. The appropriate scales should be selected for patients with glioma and meet their palliative needs.

The 'good death' in Mainland China - A Scoping Review

Background

Since the mid 80'ies, the western palliative care philosophy has influenced the development of palliative care in mainland China. However, it has caused several challenges.

Objective

To explore the understanding of the 'good death' among authorities, professionals, patients, and their relatives in end-of-life care settings in mainland China.

Design

Scoping review. The PRISMA-ScR checklist was used. The study is not registered.

Settings

End-of-life care settings, Mainland China.

Participants

Authorities, healthcare professionals, adult patients, and general population in mainland China.

Method

Literature searches were performed through Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Web of Sciences from 2001-2021, last search 21.4.2021. Inclusion criteria were: Empirical research studies investigating 'good death' or political documents about 'good death', perspectives from authorities, professionals, patients, and/or relatives, and studies following the Declaration of Helsinki. Exclusion criteria were: Literature reviews, languages other than English and Chinese, editorials, letters, comments, and children's death/dying.The analysis consisted of analysing the data including a descriptive numerical summary analysis and a qualitative thematic analysis.

Results

Nineteen articles and two political documents were included. The 19 studies were carried out from 2003-2020, with data collected from 1999 to 2019. The political documents were written in 2012 and 2017, respectively. The thematic analysis resulted in three themes: 'Medicalisation of death', 'Communication about death - a clash between two philosophies', and 'Dying and death were socially dependent'. The medicalisation of death meant the understanding of the 'good death' primarily focused on physical symptoms and treatments. The good death was understood as painless and symptom-free, where all symptoms could be measured and assessed. Dignity and shared decision-making were connected to the understanding of the 'good death'. However, the contents of the 'good death' varied across the different actors. The understanding of the 'good death' in mainland China was a negotiation between Chinese traditional philosophy and contemporary western medicine practice. There was a tension between openness and silence about death, which reflected the importance of death education. The understanding of the 'good death' consisted partly of a timely and practical preparation for the death and afterlife, partly of a matter of social and financial issues.

Conclusions

There seemed to be a clash between two different cultures in the understanding of a good death in Mainland China, where western philosophy seemed to rule the political medical actors while traditional Chinese philosophy seemed to rule parts of the population.

Status quo of implementation of advance care planning: a review

Optimum care for patients with a terminal illness is dependent on understanding their values, beliefs, and preferences on end-of-life issues and providing service that meets their preferences. As the only way to explore patients’ living wills, advance care planning (ACP) is an important means to honor patient autonomy and respect their human rights and dignity. ACP has been recognized as a key indicator for quality palliative care and endorsed into national health systems by many high-income countries; however, it is little known in mainland China. China is now facing a growing aging and terminally ill population with many unmet needs for end-of-life care; therefore, it is imperative to implement ACP in China. In this review, we clarify the relevant concept and suitable population for ACP, describe the current situation of implementation in high-income countries, and provide better suggestions for the future development of ACP in the mainland of China.

Awareness and Perceptions of Palliative Care Among the Elderly: A Qualitative Study

Objectives: With the rapidly aging population worldwide, the demand for palliative care is increasing. Palliative care publicity and education must be further developed globally, especially for the elderly. It is essential to perform targeted promotion by understanding the awareness and needs of palliative care of the elderly. This study aimed to investigate elderly people's awareness of palliative care and their own views on and needs for palliative care, which could provide a basis for the popularization of palliative care among them. Methods: A total of 20 elderly people were recruited to participate in the semi-structured, and in-depth interviews. Participants were from communities and nursing homes in Chongqing, China. The interview transcripts were coded using the method of thematic analysis. Results: Finally, 4 themes and 10 subthemes were identified, that is: unawareness of the concept of palliative care (never heard of palliative care, confusion between euthanasia and palliative care), motivations for accepting palliative care (personal perspective: less suffering; family perspective: relieving the burden), factors influencing palliative care decision (cost of palliative care, knowledge of palliative care, opinion of decision-making agents), and necessity and preferences for publicizing palliative care (eagerness to know more about palliative care, focusing on policy and charges, preference for Electronic Media Advertising). Conclusions: Palliative care publicity among the elderly is important and necessary. Findings in this study could provide some insights into how to popularize palliative care among the elderly. Considering the preference of the elderly for access to palliative care information, simultaneous publicity through TV and online channels is suggested. Since the elderly would like to choose their doctors and adult children as decision-making agents, more communication between community, health professionals and family is advocated.

Chinese physicians' perceptions of palliative care integration for advanced cancer patients: a qualitative analysis at a tertiary hospital in Changsha, China

Background

Little previous research has been conducted outside of major cities in China to examine how physicians currently perceive palliative care, and to identify specific goals for training as palliative care access expands. This study explored physicians’ perceptions of palliative care integration for advanced cancer patients in Changsha, China.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with physicians (n = 24) specializing in hematology or oncology at a tertiary hospital.

Results

Most physicians viewed palliative care as equivalent to end-of-life care, while a minority considered it possible to integrate palliative care with active treatment. Almost all physicians maintained separate conversations about palliative care with family members and patients, communicating more directly with family members than with patients about prognosis and goals of care. Physicians described experiencing ethical tension between the desire of family members to protect the patient from knowing they have advanced cancer, and the patient’s “right to decide” about palliative treatment. Physicians varied overall regarding perceptions of the role they should have in discussions about goals of care.

Conclusions

As palliative care access expands in China, medical training should encourage earlier integration of palliative care for advanced cancer, address ethical issues faced by physicians communicating about palliative care, and establish guidance on the role of the physician in discussions about goals of care.

Title of the article: Adaptation and Validation of the Chinese Version of Palliative Care Difficulties Scale

Objective

The Palliative Care Difficulties Scale (PCDS) is the most popular tool in developed countries for the assessment of difficulties perceived by clinical professionals in palliative care practice. This study aimed to culturally adapt the PCDS into a Chinese version and validate the psychometric properties of the adapted Chinese version of the PCDS.

Methods

The study was carried out in two major phases: (1) translation and cultural adaption of the PCDS into a Chinese version according to the corresponding guidelines, and (2) evaluation of the psychometric properties of the adapted Chinese version of the PCDS by consulting experts and performing a cross-sectional survey among 284 nurses and physicians. Floor and ceiling effects were estimated by the percentage of participants obtaining the lowest or highest possible scores. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using the Cronbach's α coefficient. Test–retest reliability was evaluated by the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Content validity was evaluated by the content validity index (CVI). Construct validity was calculated by applying the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

Results

The PCDS was translated and culturally adapted into a Chinese version. Neither floor nor ceiling effects were observed. The scale-level Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.94 with each dimension ranging from 0.84 to 0.92. The scale-level ICC was 0.66 with each dimension ranging from 0.41 to 0.65. Both the item-level and scale-level CVIs were equal to 1. The CFA verified the five-factor structure of the original PCDS with factor loadings for each item ranging from 0.62 to 0.96.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of the PCDS showed satisfactory psychometric properties. It is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of difficulties perceived by clinical staff in palliative care practice.

Facilitators and Barriers Affecting Implementation of Neonatal Palliative Care by Nurses in Mainland China

Neonatal nurses in mainland China encounter various challenges when it comes to delivering palliative care to neonates. The aim of this study was to determine the barriers and facilitators of neonatal nurses' attitudes to palliative care for neonates in mainland China. A simplified Chinese version of the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale was piloted, administered, and analyzed using survey methods. Nurses in neonatal intensive care units in mainland China regardless of experience in the field were invited to take part in. Over a five-month period in 2019, we surveyed neonatal nurses from 40 hospitals in five provinces of China. The response rate was 92.5% (N = 550). This study identified eight facilitators and four barriers to neonatal palliative care implementation. In terms of nurses' attitudes on providing palliative care, younger and older nurses were more positive, whereas middle-aged nurses were less so. Nurses' emotional wellbeing was rarely impacted by neonatal death. They considered neonatal palliative care, particularly pain management, to be just as important as curative treatment. Parents were invited to participate in decision-making by nurses. Nurses reported having access to professional counseling and talking about their concerns with other healthcare professionals. The following barriers to neonatal palliative care were identified in this study that were not observed in the original English version scale research in 2009: a lack of clinicians, time, clinical skills, systematic education, neonatal palliative care experience, and social acceptance. Future research is required to investigate each barrier in order to improve the implementation of neonatal palliative care in mainland China.

Experience of undergraduate midwifery students faced with perinatal death in clinical practice: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Student midwives often encounter perinatal loss including stillbirth and neonatal death as part of their clinical training. There has been limited research on how student midwives cope with perinatal death.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the experiences of undergraduate midwifery students facing perinatal death during their internships.

DESIGN

Qualitative research design based on interpretive phenomenological approach and COREQ-guided reporting.

SETTING

Tertiary maternal and child care center or general hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Undergraduate midwifery students from a medical university in Guangzhou, China.

METHODS

Study participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between October 2020 and March 2021 with 12 midwifery students. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using Diekelmann's interpretive method.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified from the data: unavoidable anxiety and avoidance response; overwhelming fear and taboos related to death; self-blame and emotional inhibition; and ethical conflict and reflection on practice.

CONCLUSIONS

Undergraduate midwifery students believed they were ill-prepared to care for women who experienced perinatal loss, consciously endured their own negative emotions such as anxiety and fear, and hoped for improved bereavement and stillbirth care in future clinical practice. Students valued support from the bereavement midwife and identified effective strategies that would help them cope with their feelings. It is recommended that adequate education and emotional support be provided to midwifery students, who should be encouraged to provide appropriate care to grieving families.

Stumbling and Growing: A Bibliometric Study of Academic Publications of Palliative Care in Mainland China for 2010-2020

Background: Mainland China is facing increasing demand for palliative care and has launched related policies after 2010. Research and publications are important for sustainable development of palliative care, and should be encouraged by policy. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the development of palliative care-related publications in Mainland China in various aspects. Design: We searched Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Ovid MEDLINE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for publications from Mainland China for 2010-2020, with the topic words "hospice," "palliative care," "end-of-life care," or "terminal care." The publishing year, region, impacts, journals, publication types, and topics were analyzed. Results: A total of 3682 publications were identified, 754 of them (20.5%) published in Chinese core journals or international journals. The annual publication number and impact factor rose rapidly after 2016 and dropped again in 2020. There is no specialized palliative care journal in Mainland China. The publication numbers differed significantly between East and Western China and were closely linked to the economy (R2 = 0.8120, P < .0001). The megacities Beijing and Shanghai comprised 2.6% of the total population of Mainland China but produced 22.6% of the publications. Palliative care in cancer patients was the most common topic (37.7% of the publications). Practical keywords such as "pain management" and "living will" gained popularity recently. Conclusions: Palliative care-related research and publication in Mainland China are growing in recent years. However, the early stage growth is unstable, with a conspicuous regional disparity. Policies should be designed, in an equitable manner, to encourage original research and publication of palliative care.

Cultural implications for disclosure of diagnosis and prognosis toward terminally ill cancer patients in China: A literature review

OBJECTIVE

Health professionals in China tend to avoid open communication with terminally ill cancer patients concerning their diagnosis and prognosis. This review aims to explore Chinese cultural beliefs and attitudes concerning disclosure and death among health professionals and cancer patients in China and to investigate preferences of terminally ill cancer patients for a "good death."

METHOD

A narrative literature review was conducted in May 2020 on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE to include all studies with clear study design which presented its own study data or referred to data within underlying studies, published between January 2000 and May 2020, having cancer patients and/or healthcare professionals as participants, conducted in Mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan and containing relevant data concerning "medical disclosure" or "good death." Quality assessment of publications was conducted using the NIH and CASP checklists.

RESULTS

Primary database search revealed a total of 108 papers of which 9 were ultimately included. The additional hand search led to the inclusion of eight further papers. In total, there were 11 quantitative studies, 4 qualitative studies and 2 literature reviews included in this review. Our findings indicated that most terminally ill cancer patients in China want to know the truth about their diagnosis and prognosis and preferred to be informed by their doctors. Terminally ill cancer patients valued a good relationship with family and medical staff as well as being respected as an individual and wanted to be able to prepare for death.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Terminally ill cancer patients in China often have a substantial need for information about their condition while their preferences are widely consistent with those in Western societies. Training for health professionals needs to focus on communication skills in order to overcome barriers in patient interaction.

"Not Just Anybody Can Do It": A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experience of Inpatient Palliative Care Professionals in China's Mainland

Background: Over the past 5 years, China has invested substantially in palliative care programs to meet the rising demand for such services. In China's mainland, most palliative care programs are embedded within an established hospital unit, but a small subset of providers practice exclusively in a stand-alone inpatient palliative care department.

Objective: To explore the lived experience of professionals at an independently operating palliative care hospital department in China's mainland.

Design: We used purposive sampling to select palliative care physicians and nurses. Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted in person. Thematic analysis was used to elicit key themes that pertained to participants' lived experience.

Setting/Subjects: Ten palliative care physicians and seven nurses at the palliative medicine department in the West China Fourth Hospital of Sichuan University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, participated in the interviews.

Results: Three themes related to participants' lived experience were (1) interactions with patients and families (e.g., frequent encounters with death, communication difficulties, witnessing family struggles, and developing mutually trusting relationships); (2) factors influencing their work life (e.g., supportive working environment, unmet training needs, policy restrictions, and lack of public awareness); and (3) perceived nature of work (e.g., complex and demanding, underappreciation, encroachment of work stress into personal life, deriving accomplishment from work, and personal growth).

Conclusion: This study helps fill the void in the palliative care literature regarding the lived experience of inpatient palliative care professionals in China's mainland. Our findings revealed factors influencing the well-being of palliative care professionals that are meaningful to policymakers.

Palliative Care in the Greater China Region: A Systematic Review of Needs, Models, and Outcomes

CONTEXT

There is rapidly increasing need for palliative care in Greater China because of rapidly aging populations.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to systematically review and appraise evidence for palliative care needs, models of care, interventions, and outcomes in Greater China.

METHODS

Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched, with hand searching of local journals and databases. Narrative synthesis was applied to the qualitative and quantitative evidence.

RESULTS

Nineteen qualitative studies and 47 quantitative studies were retained. With respect to care needs, nine themes were synthesized: pain control, reduced aggressive end-of-life care, truth telling, physical, emotional, and spiritual supports, and achieving preferred place of care/death. Informal caregivers expressed their needs for education and burden reduction. Health care professionals called for training and national policy support. Twenty-four studies evaluated interventions, mostly among patients with advanced cancer. Positive effects were suggested for improvements in quality of life, pain, anxiety and depression, readmission rate, and costs. Models of care evaluated were mostly specialist palliative care delivered in various settings (hospitals, residential care, and home). Outcome measures used were grouped into six categories of construct: quality of life, pain, physical assessment, psychospiritual assessment, quality of care, and implementation assessment. Limited rigorous randomized controlled trials are available to document intervention outcomes, and some problems (such as high attrition rates) reduced the strength of the evidence.

CONCLUSION

Palliative care services within Greater China should pay more attention to management of nonmalignant disease and to integration into primary services. Policy support is key to establishing culturally appropriate person-centered services.

Status of palliative care education in Mainland China: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

China is home to one-fifth of the world's population. In the setting of a growing and aging population as well as the designation of palliative care access as a human right in 2013, the implementation of palliative care in China gains special importance. Palliative care education is an important precondition to ensure a nationwide access to palliative care. This systematic review details the status of under- and postgraduate palliative care education in China, examining both the students' and physicians' perception, knowledge, and skills in palliative care, and the available educational interventions and programs.

METHOD

Four databases were searched in September 2018, using considered search terms. Titles, abstracts, and, if necessary, full texts were scanned to identify publications matching the inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Nine publications were included. They revealed six findings: palliative care education is lacking in both under- and postgraduate medical education, only a few programs exist. Palliative care as a concept is well known, detailed knowledge, and practical skills are less developed. Chinese physicians consider palliative care an important field to be developed in cancer care, yet the majority of healthcare professionals are not willing to work in palliative care services. Communication should be a main emphasis in palliative care education, especially in undergraduate training. Finally, there is no highly qualified research on under- or postgraduate palliative care education in Mainland China.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

These findings suggest that palliative care education in China is in demand and should be systematically integrated into medical education. Further research on the topic is urgently needed.

Prevalence and correlates of unmet palliative care needs in dyads of Chinese patients with advanced cancer and their informal caregivers: a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVES

To examine palliative care needs of advanced cancer patients and their informal caregivers and correlates of their needs within Chinese context.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in two study sites in Mainland China. Patients and caregivers were recruited in dyads. Patients completed the following questionnaires: Problems and Needs in Palliative Care-short version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS), Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Scale (Brief-COPE), and Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core 15-Palliative Care Scale. Questionnaires for caregivers were as follows: Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool in Cancer for Caregivers, HADS, ESAS, MOS-SSS, Brief-COPE, and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer. All of the outcome variables were selected based on a conceptual framework of palliative care needs assessment.

RESULTS

Four hundred nineteen patient-caregiver dyads completed this survey. Patients' unmet palliative care needs were mainly related to financial (85.2%), informational (82.3%), physical (pain) (69.7%), and psychological (64.9%) domains. Caregivers' commonly reported unmet needs mainly focused on the domains of healthcare staff (95.0%), information (92.1%), and hospital facilities and services (90.5%). Patients' greater severity of symptom distress, presence of anxiety and/or depression, use of coping strategies particularly the less use of problem-focused coping, and caregivers' poorer quality of life were identified as key negative predictors of the needs of both patients and caregivers (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Both patients and caregivers had context-bounded palliative care needs. In addition to increasing the amount of external asistance, more emphasis should be placed on screening for physical and psychological distress, the use of coping strategies, and the well-being of caregivers to help identify those in need for more clinical attention and specific interventions.

Palliative care medical student education: a cross-sectional medical school survey in mainland China

OBJECTIVE

According to the 2015 Quality of Death Index, China ranks 71st in terms of quality of palliative care out of 80 countries. Lack of palliative care education for health professionals is regarded as largely responsible. The study aims to evaluate the status of palliative care education for medical students in mainland China.

METHODS

A list of all medical schools was obtained from the Ministry of Education. A telephone survey of associate deans responsible for medical education at all 282 medical schools in mainland China was conducted in May 2019, following a standardised protocol. Telephone interviews focused on attitudes to palliative care teaching and the extent and manner in which palliative care is incorporated into the curriculum.

RESULTS

Associate deans from 173 (61.2%) of the 282 medical schools responded. A total of 120 schools (42.5%) completed the interview, while 53 (18.7%) evaded direct questions related to palliative care. Of the responding deans, 92 (76.7%) regarded palliative care education as very important. However, only 11 (9.2%) provided specific teaching on palliative care. A few schools (n=18) integrated palliative care education within required curricula, such as medical ethics and nursing science. The main reason reported for not providing palliative care education was that the medical curriculum dictated by the Ministry of Education does not require it.

CONCLUSION

A very small minority of medical schools in mainland China have any formal teaching about palliative care. Clearly, national standards for didactic and clinical teaching in palliative care for medical students and other health professionals are needed.

Psychometric assessment of the Chinese version of the Problems and Needs in Palliative Care questionnaire-short version in advanced cancer patients

BACKGROUND

To determine the validity, reliability and acceptability of the Mandarin Chinese version of the Problems and Needs in Palliative Care questionnaire-short version (PNPC-sv) for measuring problems and palliative care needs among patients with advanced cancer.

METHODS

This was a validation study using a forward- and backward- translation procedure, a panel of experts and a cross-sectional study design. The Mandarin Chinese version of the PNPC-sv was translated by four independent translators. The translated Chinese version was further reviewed by an expert panel to identify its content validity. A pilot test was conducted in 10 advanced cancer patients to preliminarily assess the face validity, readability and clarity of the pre-final version of the PNPC-sv. 178 patients with advanced cancer, regardless of their gender and types of cancer diagnosis, were further recruited through a convenience sampling from three tertiary hospitals in China to assess the psychometric properties of the PNPC-sv Mandarin Chinese version. Content validity was measured using the content validity index (CVI). Construct validity was estimated via confirmatory factor analysis and the contrasted groups approach. Concurrent validity was identified by analysing the correlations between the EORTC Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the PNPC-sv. Reliability of the PNPC-sv was examined with the internal consistency reliability and item-to-total correlations. Several closed-ended and open-ended questions were designed to explore its acceptability.

RESULTS

174 patients completed the questionnaires. High content and face validity were determined after the two rounds of assessment with the expert panel and the patients. An excellent CVI of 1.0 was achieved and patients rated the PNPC-sv as a useful instrument for assessing their problems and needs (mean score = 7.99, 0-10 scale) and reported the items were not particularly sensitive and easy to understand. The majority of the fit indexes meet the critical criteria, with the Chi-square divided by degrees of freedom (x2/df) being 1.58 and 2.05, and the root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) being 0.06 and 0.07 for the problem part and need-for-care part, respectively. In relation to the contrasted groups analysis, it clearly discriminated the differences on the sub-scores of Activities of Daily Life (ADL), spiritual and psychological problems and needs between male and female patients; ADL, physical, social and financial problems and needs between age groups; and autonomic problems and needs between patients with different cancer stages. Statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) were detected between the PNPC-sv and the EORTC QLQ-C30 in the majority of the sub-scores (positive correlations) and total scores (negative correlations). The Cronbach's alpha of the total scale was 0.88 and 0.91 for the problem part and need-for-care part, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha of the subscales were generally above 0.70. Item-to-total correlations were generally acceptable, with the majority of the values being above 0.40. The PNPC-sv questionnaire was reported to be convenient and easy to understand, and the average time for completing was 11 min.

CONCLUSIONS

The Mandarin Chinese version of the PNPC-sv is a valid, reliable and user-friendly instrument for measuring problems and palliative care needs among patients with advanced cancer. Further research is needed to further examine its psychometric properties particular internal structure in a larger patient sample.