Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41580667›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2026

Tree of peaches: exploring what matters most at the end-of-life among healthy older adults in Taiwan: a qualitative study.

Victor Wei-Che Shen, Wei-Chi V Shen, Ernest Wen-Ruey Yu, Jason Jiunshiou Lee

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Article in BMC palliative care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Victor Wei-Che ShenDepartment of Medical Education, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
Wei-Chi V ShenTechnische Universität Berlin, Berlin, 10623, Germany.
Ernest Wen-Ruey YuDepartment of Family Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Yangming Branch, No.105, Yusheng St., Shilin Dist., Taipei, 111, Taiwan.
Jason Jiunshiou LeeDepartment of Family Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Yangming Branch, No.105, Yusheng St., Shilin Dist., Taipei, 111, Taiwan. dak50@tpech.gov.tw.

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan MOST110-2813-C-532-001-B
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMeaningful and proactive end-of-life conversations are crucial for achieving person-centered care and supporting the concept of a "good death". However, death-related taboos and family-centered values continue to hinder such conversations in East Asian societies. Innovative and culturally sensitive strategies are needed to encourage early reflection and dialogue on end-of-life care preferences among healthy older adults.

aimThis study describes the development and preliminary feasibility of a culturally grounded end-of-life conversation game, Tree of Peaches, designed to facilitate discussions about what matters most at the end of life and related care preferences.

methodsThe development of Tree of Peaches followed a two-phase design process, including synthesizing literature and consulting with a panel of experts to identify and validate culturally relevant attributes associated with a good death and hospice care. An exploratory descriptive study was then conducted to assess the game's feasibility among 16 healthy older adults residing in a senior community in northern Taiwan. Each small-group session involved self-reflection, prioritization of values, and group discussion. Quantitative data on card selection and weighting were analyzed descriptively; qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

resultsThe game engaged participants in reflective dialogues on values and preferences for end-of-life care. Participants prioritized values related to dignity, followed by family emotional protection, physical comfort, and the desire to die at home. Factors discouraging hospice care included self-sacrifice reassurance to preserve family hope, optimistic beliefs, and unfamiliarity with hospice services. The findings highlight how participants navigated tensions between personal values, family love, and cultural expectations in shaping their end-of-life care preferences.

conclusionsThis study suggests that Tree of Peaches, through the integration of gamification and culturally sensitive design, offers a structured platform that may facilitate reflective and value-based discussions about end-of-life preferences among healthy older adults. The findings provide insights into the interplay between personal values and family concerns, contributing to a deeper understanding of how autonomy, interdependence, and a "good death" are negotiated within Taiwanese culture. This tool shows potential for adaptation in broader contexts to support proactive end-of-life conversations, which warrants further evaluation in future studies.

Indexed as

Terminal CareAgedAged, 80 and overCommunicationFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchTaiwanEast Asian cultureEnd-of-life conversationFamily valuesGamificationGood deathHealthy older adultsHospice careTaiwan

Identifiers

PMID41580667
PMCPMC12910942

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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 Socratic graph.