Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39789528›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2025

Learning from experience: does providing end-of-life care support for relatives boost personal end-of-life health literacy?

Clément Meier, Maud Wieczorek, Sarah Vilpert, Carmen Borrat-Besson, Ralf J Jox, Jürgen Maurer

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Palliative and supportive care in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a qualitative study on attitudes and perceptions of health professionals.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Clément MeierFaculty of Biology and Medicine (FBM) & The faculty of Business and Economics (HEC), Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. clement.meier@unil.ch.
Maud WieczorekFaculty of Business and Economics (HEC), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Sarah VilpertFaculty of Business and Economics (HEC), Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Carmen Borrat-BessonSwiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Ralf J JoxPalliative and Supportive Care Service, Chair in Geriatric Palliative Care, Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jürgen MaurerFaculty of Business and Economics (HEC), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Funding

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung 10001C_188836
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the critical role of health literacy in utilizing palliative care and engaging in advance care planning, limited research exists on the determinants of end-of-life health literacy. This study investigates the association between individuals' experiences with end-of-life care support to relatives and their end-of-life health literacy among a population-based sample of adults aged 58 and older.

methodWe used data from 1,548 respondents in Switzerland to Wave 8 (2019/2020) of the Survey on Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe. Their ability to understand medical jargon, find information, communicate, and make decisions about end-of-life care options was measured with the validated Subjective End-of-Life Health Literacy Scale. Experiences with end-of-life care support include having made medical decisions as healthcare proxy, accompanied, or cared for relatives at the end of life. Associations were estimated using ordinary least squares regressions, controlling for socio-demographic, health, and regional characteristics.

resultsRespondents who experienced being a healthcare proxy (p < 0.001), who accompanied (p < 0.001), or who cared for a relative at the end of life (p < 0.001) tended to have higher levels of end-of-life health literacy. These results remained significant when the three variables were simultaneously included in the multivariable model (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.05).

conclusionsOur findings suggest that providing end-of-life care support to relatives is associated with higher end-of-life health literacy. Thus, as caregivers gain experience caring for others, targeted interventions could leverage their skills and encourage them to think of engaging in end-of-life planning for themselves.

Indexed as

Health LiteracyTerminal CareAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesSwitzerlandCaregiversEnd of lifeExperiencesFamily careHealth literacy

Identifiers

PMID39789528
PMCPMC11716501

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.