End-of-life care knowledge among chinese older adults: current status and influencing factors

This study assessed cross-sectional end-of-life care (EoLC) knowledge among 650 adults aged 60 and above across 26 provincial-level regions in China and examined the influence of individual- and provincial-level predictors. Using repeated measures ANOVA, familiarity with 15 EoLC-related concepts was compared. Hierarchical linear regression analyzed predictors of total knowledge scores, incorporating provincial-level health and standard of living indices alongside individual factors. The average knowledge score was relatively high (42.04/60), with participants more familiar with general concepts than specific medical terms. Higher knowledge scores were associated with having an urban Hukou, working in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, or fishery sectors as opposed to factories before retirement, having pension insurance, better self-rated health, and caregiving experience. Provincial-level health and living standards did not significantly enhance explanatory power for cross-regional differences. The findings highlight that while participants had relatively high EoLC knowledge, individual resources and experiences were pivotal in shaping their understanding.