Exploring the Influence of End-of-Life Care on the Quality of Death in Aging Individuals: A Representative Study Conducted in China

Abstract

Objective: The relationship between end-of-life care and the quality of death remains inconclusive. This study explores the association between end-of-life care and the quality of death among aging individuals in China and examines its heterogeneity.

Methods: This study utilized three waves of data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) focusing on aging individuals in their final phase of life (N = 9974). By employing structural equation modeling (SEM) and the SEM-based regression models, we examined the impact of end-of-life care on the quality of death among aging individuals.

Results: These findings indicate that the current provision of end-of-life care falls short in improving the quality of death for aging individuals (β = −0.3177; p ≤ 0.001), while lifestyles factors have a significant positive effect (β = 1.7054; p ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, the impact of end-of-life care on the quality of death varies based on gender (β = −0.3370, −0.3301; p ≤ 0.001) and rural–urban disparities (β = −0.3768, −0.3083; p ≤ 0.001). Various aspects of end-of-life care exhibit distinct influences on specific dimensions of death quality in aging individuals.

Conclusion: These results underscore the necessity of enhancing end-of-life and death education in China. It is essential to reshape traditional perspectives concerning life and death, raise awareness and acceptance of end-of-life care, increase the availability of end-of-life care services, and improve the professionalism of care.