Table 1 Results of univariate analysis of general information and PHW knowledge and belief scores(\({\bar x}\) ± s, n = 407)

Age (year)

≤ 29

57.77 ± 14.01

63.21 ± 7.22

64.20 ± 20.77

30–39

57.20 ± 14.24

62.87 ± 6.34

62.19 ± 20.34

40–49

60.33 ± 14.22

63.13 ± 5.88

65.68 ± 22.85

≥ 50

63.91 ± 13.23

64.48 ± 5.55

71.35 ± 23.28

F

2.270

0.449

1.599

P

0.080

0.718

0.189

Highest education

Junior college

55.09 ± 15.93

61.53 ± 7.27

59.07 ± 21.71

Undergraduate

59.46 ± 13.36

63.31 ± 5.94

65.24 ± 20.76

Postgraduate

59.77 ± 13.31

64.46 ± 5.84

66.92 ± 21.26

Doctoral candidate

65.63 ± 9.03

66.00 ± 6.02

70.38 ± 15.36

F

3.494

4.360

3.148

P

0.016*

0.005**

0.025*

Monthly income (yuan)

<5000

53.04 ± 14.53

61.67 ± 8.34

60.27 ± 22.69

5000–8000

57.81 ± 14.04

62.48 ± 6.05

59.50 ± 21.26

8001–10,000

59.65 ± 14.24

64.13 ± 6.39

67.41 ± 19.35

< 10,000

62.59 ± 12.89

64.06 ± 4.93

74.02 ± 19.59

F

4.476

2.943

8.570

P

0.004*

0.033*

< 0.001**

Working years

≤ 5

55.96 ± 13.89

62.57 ± 7.89

58.40 ± 19.86

6–10

59.09 ± 13.67

63.09 ± 6.14

59.18 ± 22.44

11–20

57.95 ± 15.04

63.43 ± 6.09

68.43 ± 20.32

≥ 21

62.55 ± 12.50

63.02 ± 4.98

70.25 ± 19.19

F

2.499

0.339

8.112

P

0.059

0.797

< 0.001**

Professional title

Junior

54.52 ± 13.92

61.89 ± 7.61

60.56 ± 19.91

Intermediate

59.28 ± 14.32

63.32 ± 5.95

62.61 ± 20.61

Deputy senior

61.95 ± 12.57

64.27 ± 4.98

70.29 ± 22.85

Senior

63.00 ± 17.83

64.90 ± 6.45

83.60 ± 18.19

F

5.503

2.714

6.759

P

0.001**

0.045*

< 0.001**

Job position

Doctor

56.26 ± 14.26

62.17 ± 7.22

60.38 ± 23.06

Nurse

59.42 ± 14.09

63.54 ± 5.94

65.63 ± 20.13

t

− 2.106

− 2.026

− 2.345

P

0.036*

0.043*

0.020*

Grade of hospital

Grade 1 hospital

45.00 ± 20.00

55.67 ± 5.05

53.33 ± 17.51

Grade 2 A hospital

56.30 ± 12.74

63.60 ± 6.08

61.46 ± 25.45

Grade 2B hospital

51.25 ± 14.86

59.30 ± 8.59

56.65 ± 22.34

Grade 3 A hospital

60.35 ± 13.65

63.57 ± 6.53

66.81 ± 18.77

Grade 3B hospital

58.62 ± 15.92

62.62 ± 5.01

61.46 ± 20.75

F

4.303

4.461

2.552

P

0.002**

0.002**

0.039*

Type of medical institution

General hospital

56.29 ± 16.19

61.81 ± 6.96

60.84 ± 22.23

Specialized hospital

59.51 ± 12.94

63.78 ± 5.99

65.57 ± 20.54

t

− 2.188

-2.972

− 2.148

P

0.029*

0.003**

0.032*

Marital status

Unmarried

55.44 ± 14.47

61.12 ± 7.56

58.84 ± 20.29

Married

59.49 ± 13.62

63.79 ± 5.78

65.78 ± 21.62

Divorced

61.43 ± 14.73

63.50 ± 6.64

64.36 ± 18.14

Widowhood

51.42 ± 24.95

63.14 ± 7.22

62.86 ± 14.31

F

2.845

4.480

2.714

P

0.037*

0.004**

0.045*

Religion

Nothing

58.68 ± 14.02

62.49 ± 60.3

63.16 ± 20.45

Buddhism

55.30 ± 16.05

70.03 ± 6.53

72.85 ± 27.50

t

− 1.309

6.840

2.530

P

0.191

< 0.001**

0.012*

Experience of caring for a terminally ill child/kinsfolk

Have

61.67 ± 12.67

64.62 ± 6.15

68.77 ± 18.59

Do not have

56.31 ± 14.75

62.13 ± 6.39

60.84 ± 22.25

t

3.772

3.894

3.733

P

< 0.001**

< 0.001**

< 0.001**

Total hours of CPC education and training received

0 credit hours

55.87 ± 13.62

61.98 ± 6.41

59.78 ± 19.62

1–5 credit hours

61.40 ± 14.11

64.45 ± 5.85

68.78 ± 21.73

6–10 credit hours

65.16 ± 15.36

66.48 ± 6.53

78.97 ± 21.08

11–15 credit hours

67.50 ± 8.58

67.50 ± 4.79

71.80 ± 25.97

16 and above credit hours

68.33 ± 14.02

64.33 ± 4.13

73.00 ± 20.89

F

7.104

6.881

8.943

P

< 0.001**

< 0.001**

< 0.001**