Analysis of the current status of the palliative care cognition and influencing factors of readiness in patients with liver cancer

Objective To understand the current status of palliative care(PC) cognition of liver cancer patients, explore the influencing factors of PC readiness, and provide help for seeking effective intervention measures, clinical work and basic nursing work.

Methods A total of 98 liver cancer patients were selected by convenience sampling. The current status of PC cognition and the influencing factors of PC readiness in the liver patients were investigated using the general situation survey questionnaire, PC cognition scale(PPCI), cancer coping questionnaire(MoCCMQ) and end stage related medical experience(PEES).

Results In terms of emotional response, 63.27% of patients chose to show positive emotions at facing PC; in cognitive response, 86.73% of patients showed supportive cognition; in terms of PC needs, 71.43% of patients expressed emotional needs, and 63.26% of patients expressed actual needs, and 53.06% of patients had a sense of burden. The differences of the levels of perceived economic pressure, medical insurance status, perceived family support and understanding of PC among the patients were statistically significant(P < 0.05). The results of Pearson correlation analysis results showed that the readiness for PC was positively correlated with the "facing""yielding", end-of-life experience, medical trust, benevolence and technical ability(P < 0.01), and significantly negatively correlated with "avoidance and suppression" (P < 0.01). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the higher the perceived family support, understanding of PC, end-stage medical experience score, trust in medical treatment and readiness for PC among liver cancer patients, the lower readiness for PC among those who avoided and suppressed, and felt greater economic pressure. Together, these variables explained 68.3% of the variation in PC readiness in patients with liver cancer.

Conclusions Liver cancer patients exhibit more positive emotions towards PC, a supportive attitude towards PC, a higher demand for PC, a certain sense of burden, and a moderate level of readiness for PC. Family support, economic pressure, understanding of PC, end-stage medical experience, trust in medical treatment, and medical coping strategies are the independent influencing factors of PC readiness.