Promoting Public Engagement with Palliative and End-of-life Care Discussion on Chinese Social Media

Palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) provides physical, psychological, and spiritual support to patients living with life-limiting conditions and terminal diseases, improving their quality of life and assist their families [1]. Global public awareness and knowledge about PEoLC is limited, especially in China. Studies have suggested that in China over 80% of cancer patients are unaware of palliative care, significantly lower than in Europe, America, and other developed regions [2], [3]. Within the context of traditional Chinese culture, discussions pertaining to death and dying have historically been considered taboos. As a result, individuals nearing the end of their lives often face societal and familial moral constraints, hindering their ability to autonomously make end-of-life decisions [4]. In 2015, the quality of China's palliative care was ranked merely 71
^st
among 80 countries or regions worldwide [5]. Hence, there is an urgent need for public educational and promotional efforts about PEoLC in China.