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Factors associated with family decision-making self-efficacy among family members of patients with advanced cancer in mainland China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2024

Yangfan Hu ,
Wenxia Wang ,
Yali Jiang ,
Xixi Wang ,
Xuelan Peng ,
Mingzhu Xin  and
Juanjuan Zhao Open the ORCID record for Juanjuan Zhao [Opens in a new window]
Yangfan Hu
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Wenxia Wang
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Yali Jiang
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Xixi Wang
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Xuelan Peng
Affiliation:
Intensive Care Unit, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
Mingzhu Xin
Affiliation:
Nursing Department, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
Juanjuan Zhao*
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
*
Corresponding author: Juanjuan Zhao; Email: zhaojj6@mail.sysu.edu.cn
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Abstract

Objectives

In Chinese culture, family members are the main decision maker on end-of-life (EoL) issues for patients with advanced cancer. Yet little is known about Chinese families’ confidence in making EoL decisions and its associated factors. This study aims to investigate the status and associated factors of Chinese family members’ confidence in making EoL decisions for patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 147 family members of patients with stage III or stage IV cancer from a tertiary cancer center in Guangzhou, China. The questionnaires included demographic information of patients and their family members, patients’ EoL preferences, and the Chinese version of the Family Decision-Making Self-Efficacy (FDMSE) Scale.

Results

A total of145 family members (98.64%) completed the questionnaires. The average score of FDMSE was 3.92 ± 0.53. A multiple regression analysis showed that the factors associated with FDMSE included patients’ duration of disease, health insurance, participation in EoL decision-making, the expression of unfilled wishes, and family members’ employment status.

Significance of results

Chinese family members were not confident enough in making EoL decisions for patients with advanced cancer. It is recommended to develop cultural-tailored advanced care planning models to clarify patient preferences and to enhance the family members’ self-efficacy in making EoL decisions with or for patients with advanced cancer.

Keywords

Advanced cancerfamilydecision-makingself-efficacyend-of-lifeadvanced care planning
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , First View , pp. 1 - 7
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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