The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting death attitudes among middle-aged Koreans. In addition, the study explored the interaction effect between knowledge about end-of-life care planning and the experience of death of family or friends on death attitudes. The sample was obtained from a national survey with middle-aged adults in South Korea (n = 2,026). Multivariate regression analysis revealed significant main effects and an interaction effect between knowledge about end-of-life care planning and the experience of death on death attitudes. Greater knowledge of end-of-life care planning was associated with more positive attitudes toward death; however, the effect was stronger for those who had not experienced the death of family or friends. Being older and having greater life satisfaction were also associated with more positive attitudes toward death. This study suggests that end-of-life education can help middle-aged adults embrace the final stage of life and prepare for their own death.

With the rapidly increasing number of older adults, dealing with long-term care (LTC) needs becomes an emerging issue in South Korea. This study aims to examine factors affecting the intention to use longtermcare facilities with two groups of young-old adults: (1) Korean pre-elderly (KPE) and (2) Korean babyboomers (KBB). Guided by Andersen’s behavioral model of health service use and prior research, predisposing characters, enabling resources, need factors, availabilities of informal care and self-care activities were used as predictors. In the final analyses, 803 KPE and 966 KBB were included. The results of logistic regression analyses showed different findings in two groups. Age, education, spouse's physicalhealth, and self-care activities for relationship with family and friends are significantly associated with intention to use LTC facilities among KPE. However, income, physical health of respondents, and relationship satisfaction with children are significantly related to intention of use LTC facilities in the group of KBB. This study suggests different LTC needs between KPE and KBB. Health care professionals and policy makers need to consider such differences to provide quality LTC care for them.

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Given the increasing number of older adults in South Korea, it is critical to understand their attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) care. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with the willingness to receive hospice care and complete advance directives among 2026 middle-aged adults in South Korea. On the basis of Andersen's behavioral model and previous research, predisposing factors (age, sex, education, and religion), enabling factors (income), need factors (perceived health and depressive symptoms), and death-related factors (death of family members or friends and knowledge about EOL care planning) were included as predictors. The results showed that being older and having a higher educational level, a higher monthly income, and better knowledge of EOL care planning were associated with the willingness to use hospice services. On the other hand, a higher educational level, a higher monthly income, better knowledge of EOL care planning, and the death of a family or friend in the past year were associated with the willingness to complete advance directives. Implications for practice, policy, and research to better serve the needs related to EOL care among middle-aged adults in South Korea were discussed.