Attitudes of Chinese College Students Toward Medical Aid in Dying (MAID)

Abstract

Objective

This study examined the attitudes of young Chinese people toward Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) and the correlates of those attitudes, and reviewed research on MAID and other countries and cultures.

Method

Data on attitudes toward and perceptions of MAID among students from three universities in Chengdu, China, were collected. A total of 254 valid questionnaires were analyzed from 298 individuals who were confirmed to be eligible and agreed to participate, with a response rate of 85.23%. Attitudes toward MAID were presented using descriptive analyses. The factors influencing MAID attitudes were examined and discussed, particularly thanatopsis (an individual’s views and contemplations of death) and perceptions (the participants’ understanding and awareness of MAID).

Results

The results showed that 85.4% of participants had positive attitudes toward MAID. The results of the logit regression analysis indicate that thanatopsis (β = 3.368, P < .05) and perception (β = 7.209, P < .01) were significantly correlated with attitudes toward MAID. Compared to the majority Han ethnicity, minority ethnicities (which, in the context of China, refers to the 55 officially recognized ethnic groups other than the Han majority) demonstrated greater opposition to MAID (β = −1.202, P < .1). Additionally, students with master’s degrees indicated more support for MAID than did those with less education (β = 4.314, P < .01). Robustness tests bolstered the reliability of the results.

Conclusion

This study is important for understanding college students’ attitudes toward MAID and the factors that influence them in the context of Chinese society and culture.