Background understanding end-of-life preferences in the general population and how they are structured in people’s minds is essential to inform how to better shape healthcare services in accordance with population expectations for their end of life and optimise communication on end-of-life care issues. Objective explore key dimensions underlying end-of-life preferences in a nationally representative sample of adults aged 55 and over in Switzerland. Methods respondents (n = 2,514) to the Swiss version of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe assessed the importance of 23 end-of-life items on a 4-point Likert scale. The factorial structure of the underlying end-of-life preferences was examined using exploratory structural equation modelling. Results four dimensions underlying end-of-life preferences were identified: a medical dimension including aspects related to pain management and the maintenance of physical and cognitive abilities; a psychosocial dimension encompassing aspects related to social and spiritual support; a control dimension addressing the need to achieve some control and to put things in order before death; and a burden dimension reflecting wishes not to be a burden to others and to feel useful to others. Conclusion highlighting the multi-dimensionality of end-of-life preferences, our results reaffirm the importance of a holistic and comprehensive approach to the end of life. Our results also provide a general framework that may guide the development of information and awareness campaigns on end-of-life care issues in the general population, informational materials and guidelines to support healthy individuals in end-of-life thinking and planning, and advance directive templates appropriate for healthy individuals.

中文翻译：

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55岁以上瑞士总人口的临终偏好维度


背景了解一般人群的临终偏好及其在人们头脑中的结构，对于了解如何根据人们对临终的期望更好地塑造医疗保健服务并优化临终护理的沟通至关重要问题。目标是在瑞士 55 岁及以上成年人的全国代表性样本中探索临终偏好的关键维度。方法 瑞士版欧洲健康、老龄化和退休调查的受访者 (n = 2,514) 采用 4 点李克特量表评估了 23 项临终项目的重要性。使用探索性结构方程模型检查了潜在的临终偏好的阶乘结构。结果确定了临终偏好的四个维度：医学维度，包括与疼痛管理以及身体和认知能力维持相关的方面；社会心理层面，包括与社会和精神支持相关的方面；控制维度，解决在死前实现某种控制和整理事物的需要；负担维度反映了不成为他人负担并感到对他人有用的愿望。结论强调了临终偏好的多维性，我们的结果重申了对生命临终采取整体和综合方法的重要性。我们的研究结果还提供了一个总体框架，可以指导一般人群中有关临终关怀问题的信息和宣传活动的开展，信息材料和指南，以支持健康个体进行临终思考和规划，并推进适用于健康个体的指令模板。