Objectives

To explore advance directive (AD) preferences and the facilitators and barriers of promoting ADs among terminally ill older patients in China.

Design

A scoping review was used to identify key themes in ADs.

Setting and participants

Studies from 2007 to 2017 were identified from the MEDLINE and Cochrane libraries. Articles concerning important components of ADs in terminally ill older patients were selected.

Measures

Eligible articles concerning important components of ADs in terminally ill older patients were thematically synthesized. Later, implementation evidence was identified from core components.

Results

We used 13 articles and identified key components in ADs: (1) Chinese cultural characteristics; (2) policy support; (3) advance care planning (ACP); (4) hospice-palliative care (HPC); (5) prognosis disclosure and life-sustaining treatment preference; (6) knowledge about ADs for patients and their families; (7) the prevalence of ADs; (8) implementation of ADs; (9) staff experience and training; and (10) effective communication between patients, their families, and health care professionals. Facilitators in implementing ADs included previous comfort-oriented end-of-life care experience of patients or their families, and the enactment of relevant policy. Barriers included traditional Chinese cultural beliefs; lack of policy; lack of knowledge of ADs, ACP, and HPC; and poor communication between physicians, patients, and family members.

Conclusions/implications

Chinese patients still showed positive preferences toward ADs. The implementation of ADs could be promoted through public education about ADs, the learning of ACP and HPC, and relevant policy development in China.