Abstract:Objective To explore the readiness for advance care planning and its influencing factors among patients with advanced cancer, so as to provide reference for implementing advance care planning. Methods Based on cognitive adaptation theory, a total of 355 advanced cancer patients from oncology departments of 4 grade three hospitals in Anhui province were investigated using the Readiness for Advance Care Planning Scale, Chinese Meaning in Life Questionnaire, revised Life Orientation Test, Benefit Finding Scale, Multidimentional Health Locus of Control and Self-esteem Scale. Results The overall score of readiness for advance care planning and subscale score of attitude, belief and motivation was (76.00±10.07), (33.10±6.48), (17.82±2.76) and (25.10±4.03) respectively. Regression analysis result showed that, the meaning in life, benefit discovery, self-esteem, length of disease and educational background were predictors of readiness for advance care planning among advanced cancer patients(P<0.01 for all). Conclusion The readiness for advance care planning among advanced cancer patients is in a medium and above level, and those patients with short length of disease, low level of educational background, poor sense of meaning in life, poor benefit discovery ability and low self-esteem level are prone to suffer from low readiness for advance care planning.
