Abstract Background Palliative care is increasingly recognized as vital for older adults with life-limiting conditions, yet its adoption in China remains limited due to cultural, educational, and systemic barriers. Informal caregivers play a critical role in decision-making, but their perspectives on palliative care are underexplored. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and care preferences of informal caregivers of older adults regarding palliative care in China, while identifying the associated influencing factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,010 informal caregivers in China using convenience sampling. A validated questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and care preferences related to palliative care. Descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, and multiple linear regression were used to identify influencing factors. Results Caregivers exhibited moderate knowledge (mean = 6.77 ± 2.87), positive attitudes (mean = 31.72 ± 7.61), supportive behaviors (mean = 28.81 ± 5.19), and strong care preferences (mean = 74.41 ± 13.93). Key predictors included gender, education, urban residence, caregiving experience, and relationship with the older adult. Significant correlations were observed among knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and preferences. Conclusion Informal caregivers are essential to palliative care delivery for older adults. Although acceptance is increasing, targeted education and improved communication are necessary to enhance literacy and align care practices with caregiver and patient preferences.
Wu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.