Table 1 The basic information of the patients

Age

64.30 ± 14.38

Sex (Male/Female)

46/36

Education level of the patients

 High school degree or below, n (%)

54 (65.85%)

 College degree or above, n (%)

28 (34.15%)

Religious beliefs of the patients

 Member of Communist Party of China, n (%)

20 (24.39%)

 Buddhism, n (%)

2 (2.44%)

 Christian, n (%)

3 (3.66%)

 None, n (%)

57 (69.51%)

Type of end-stage disease

 Malignant tumor, n (%)

64 (78.05%)

 Organ failure, n (%)

9 (10.98%)

 Advanced age, n (%)

11 (13.41%)

 No ability to take care of themselves, n (%)

15 (18.29%)

 Others (%)

3 (3.66%)

The major end-stage disease had previously been actively treated

 Yes, n (%)

64 (78.05%)

 No, n (%)

18 (21.95%)

Consciousness of the patient

 Aware, n (%)

49 (59.76%)

 Somnolence, n (%)

5 (6.10%)

 Confusion, n (%)

10 (12.20%)

 Coma, n (%)

18 (21.95%)

Whether the patient was aware of his or her disease

 Absolutely yes, n (%)

45 (54.88%)

 Partially yes, n (%)

13 (15.85%)

 Absolutely no, n (%)

7 (8.54%)

 Unknowing, n (%)

17 (20.73%)

Whether a will had been made

 Yes, n (%)

15 (18.29%)

 No, n (%)

67 (81.71%)

Whether the patient had a strong desire for treatment

 Yes, n (%)

42 (51.22%)

 No, n (%)

40 (48.78%)

Marital status

 Married

57 (69.51%)

 Wid

18 (21.95%)

 Unmarried

4 (4.88%)

 Divorced

3 (3.66%)

Number of children

 0

7 (8.54%)

 1

43 (52.44%)

 2

20 (24.39%)

 More than 2

12 (14.63%)

Age of the children

 ≥ 18 years

65 (79.27%)

 < 18 years

17 (20.73%)

Live alone

 Yes, n (%)

3 (3.66%)

 No, n (%)

79 (96.34%)

MOS SF-36 score

 < 50, n (%)

66 (80.49%)

 ≥ 50, n (%)

16 (19.51%)

Time of diagnosing terminal disease

 < 1 month, n (%)

10 (12.20%)

 1 month to 1 year, n (%)

28 (34.15%)

 > 1 year, n (%)

44 (53.66%)

Expected life

 < 1 month, n (%)

58 (70.73%)

 1–6 months, n (%)

24 (29.27%)

Whether the family members were clear about the patients’ expected life before admission

 Yes, n (%)

43 (52.44%)

 No, n (%)

39 (47.56%)