Knowledge and attitudes regarding hospice care among outpatients and family members in two hospitals in China

Access to hospice care is widely provided in Western countries, but the supply of such service is still in its initiative stage in China. As relatives are often involved in end-of-life decision making in China, a better understanding of their cognitions toward hospice care would help policy makers and physicians to overcome the barriers of providing such service. Thus, we conducted the study to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes among Chinese outpatients and family members regarding hospice care. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Peking University Third Hospital and Peking University Shougang Hospital. Trained interviewers recruited outpatients or family members in two hospitals as a convenience sample to complete an anonymous face-to-face survey on demographic information, knowledge, and attitudes regarding hospice care. A total of 550 respondents completed this survey. Only 107 (19.5%) reported that they had known or heard of hospice care, with a mean knowledge score of 2.8 (standard deviation = 1.6). Of the respondents, 69.5% answered “strongly agree” or “agree” regarding the importance of providing hospice care in China. Participants who had known of hospice care were more likely to have favorite attitudes toward it. The awareness rate of hospice care is low in the study, which may lead to poor attitude and low enrollment rate. Considering the increasing evidence to support the improved outcomes of patients and family members associated with hospice care, the public education on its scope of services, benefits, and limitations is needed in China.