Table 3 Knowledge and preferences of the study participants regarding ADs (n = 316)
Questions | Answers | n% |
|---|---|---|
Have you heard of ADs (a written statement of a person’s wishes regarding medical treatment, often including a living will, made to ensure these wishes are carried out should you be unable to communicate them to a doctor)? | Yes | 36 (11.39%) |
No | 280 (88.61%) | |
In the future, if ADs were legal in China and you were in a condition wherein you cannot make your own medical decisions (e.g. in coma or cannot speak), would you like to make an AD? | I would | 206 (65.18%) |
I would not | 110 (34.82%) | |
Reasons for preferring to make an AD | ||
 Ensure that the end of my life is comfortable and avoid pain |  | 93 (45.15%) |
 Avoid burdening my family’s economic condition |  | 66 (32.03%) |
 Hope my wishes could be respected |  | 23 (11.17%) |
 Avoid imposing burdens on society |  | 3 (1.45%) |
 Consider the quality of my life is more important than the length of my life |  | 19 (9.23%) |
 Religious beliefs |  | 0 |
 Witnessed the rescue of other people |  | 2 (0.97%) |
Reasons for preferring not to make an AD | ||
 Family members will decide for me |  | 15 (13.64%) |
 Let it be |  | 5 (4.55%) |
 No need to think about it now and my doctor will decide for me |  | 34 (30.91%) |
 Decision may change |  | 6 (5.45%) |
 Not familiar with the concept of ADs |  | 47 (42.73%) |
 Religious beliefs |  | 3 (2.72%) |