Factors Associated with Patient–Caregiver Concordance about Life-Sustaining Treatment Preferences among Advanced Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives

Concordance of preferences for end-of-life care regarding patients between patients with advanced cancer and family caregivers can improve the likelihood of honoring dying patients’ wishes. However, there is a dearth of knowledge in mainland China. The purpose of this study was to examine patient–family caregiver concordance about patients’ life-sustaining treatment preferences and associated factors among patients with advanced cancer in China.

Methods

From September 2019 to December 2021, a convenience sample of 406 dyads of advanced cancer patient–family caregiver were recruited from 2 tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China. Participants completed a questionnaire about patient's preferences for life-sustaining treatment, respectively. The concordance was assessed by percent agreement and kappa coefficients. Associated factors were identified by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression.

Results

The average concordance rate on the preferences for life-sustaining treatment was 56.1%, ranging from 52.9% to 59.3%. Factors associated with a higher level of patient–family caregiver concordance were following: patients who were married, whose educational levels were at college or above, who had not been informed of diagnosis by a physician, who had been informed of the effects and side effects of related drugs by a physician, and who cared for a seriously ill family member or friend and caregivers whose educational level were primary or below.

Conclusions

The patient–family caregiver concordance about patients’ life-sustaining treatment preferences among patients with advanced cancer was poor. Patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of life-sustaining treatment and its efficacy in end-of-life should be facilitated. Relevant conversation should be encouraged between patients and caregivers, thus providing value-concordant end-of-life care for patients with cancer.

Implications for Nursing Practice

Health professionals need to carry out advanced care planning in oncology departments on mainland China to encourage patients and caregivers to discuss patients’ end-of-life care preferences. Facilitating patients’ and caregivers’ understanding of life-sustaining treatment preferences may help improve the patient–caregiver concordance on life-sustaining treatment preferences among patients with advanced cancer.