Table 2 Characteristics of PC programs offered at Chinese hospitals participating in the study

PC service offered by:

0.001

 PC department or specialists

35

15.5 (10.7–20.2)

28

34.1 (25.0–45.6)

0.0006

 Other professionals (no PC department or specialists)

183

81.0 (75.8–86.1)

51

62.2 (51.9–72.8)

 Missing

8

3.5 (1.1–6.0)

3

3.7 (0.6–7.8)

Title of PC program (multiple answers allowed)

 Comprehensive cancer care

167

73.9(68.1–79.7)

52

63.4(52.8–74.1)

0.073

 Pain and symptom management

141

62.4 (56.0–68.8)

46

56.1 (45.1–67.1)

0.318

 Palliative care

54

23.9 (18.3–29.5)

20

24.4 (14.9–33.9)

0.928

 End-of-life care

76

33.6 (27.4–39.8)

28

34.1 (23.7–44.6)

0.932

 Supportive care

128

56.6 (50.1–63.1)

34

41.5 (30.6–52.4)

0.018

Time since initiation of PC program

0.746

  < 1 year

17

7.5 (4.1–11.0)

7

8.5 (4.1–16.9)

 1–2 years

38

16.8 (12.4–22.3)

16

19.5 (12.3–29.6)

 3–5 years

51

22.6 (17.6–28.5)

16

19.5 (12.3–29.6)

  > 5 years

120

53.1 (46.5–59.5)

43

52.4 (41.6–63.0)

Respondent’s professional title

0.142

 Senior faculty member

210

92.9 (89.6–96.3)

71

86.6 (79.2–94.0)

 Mid-level faculty member

15

6.6 (3.4–9.9)

11

13.4 (6.0–20.8)

 Junior faculty member

1

0.4 (− 0.4 - 1.3)

0

0

At least 20% of PC staff are full-time physicians

82

36.3 (30.0–42.6)

36

43.9 (33.2–54.6)

0.224

Respondent’s department within hospital

0.029

 Medical oncology

185

81.9 (76.2–86.3)

49

59.8 (48.8–69.8)

0.000

 Medical department

7

3.1 (1.5–6.4)

6

7.3 (3.3–15.4)

 Radiology

6

2.7 (1.2–5.7)

7

8.5 (4.1–16.9)

 Traditional Chinese Medicine

4

1.8 (0.7–4.6)

2

2.4 (0.6–9.3)

 Pain management

4

1.8 (0.6–4.6)

5

6.1 (2.6–13.9)

 Geriatric care

4

1.8 (0.7–4.6)

2

2.4 (0.6–9.3)

 Surgery

3

1.3 (0.4–4.1)

3

3.7 (1.2–10.8)

 Nursing

3

1.3 (0.4–4.1)

2

2.4 (0.6–9.3)

 Palliative care

2

0.9 (0.2–3.4)

1

1.2 (0.2–8.2)

 Other

8

3.5 (0.2–6.9)

5

6.1 (2.6–13.9)

PC services provided (multiple answers allowed)

 Assessment and management of psychiatric disorders

87

38.5 (32.2–44.8)

21

25.6 (16.2–35.1)

0.036

 Obtaining advanced directives/DNR orders

102

45.1 (38.6–51.6)

37

45.1 (34.4–55.9)

0.999

 Solving ethical issues

51

22.6 (17.1–28.0)

23

28.0 (18.3–37.8)

0.320

 Referrals to hospice, home care, and other placements

72

31.9 (25.8–37.9)

36

43.9 (33.2–54.6)

0.050

 Comprehensive care plans

134

59.3 (52.9–65.7)

49

59.8 (49.1–70.4)

0.942

 Pain consultation

212

93.8 (90.7–96.9)

76

92.7 (87.0–98.3)

0.724

 Psychosocial support

114

50.4 (43.9–57.0)

38

46.3 (35.5–57.1)

0.525

 Symptom management

174

77.0 (71.5–82.5)

64

78.0 (69.1–87.0)

0.845

Estimated patient follow-up time

0.109

 1-7 days

43

19.0 (13.9–24.1)

12

14.6 (7.0–22.3)

 1-4 weeks

76

33.6 (27.5–39.8)

23

28.0 (18.3–37.8)

 1-12 months

76

33.6 (27.5–39.8)

31

37.8 (27.3–48.3)

 1-2 years

17

7.5 (4.1–11.0)

9

11.0 (4.2–17.7)

  > 2years

14

6.2 (3.1–9.3)

7

8.5 (2.5–14.6)