Objective: To investigate the level of good death among emergency department deceased patients and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide a scientific basis for optimizing end-of-life care practices in the emergency setting. Methods: Using convenience sampling, 203 family members of patients who died in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou were selected as study subjects. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Good Death Inventory (GDI), and the Chinese version of the Care Evaluation Scale (CES). Univariate analysis and linear regression were employed to analyze the factors influencing the level of good death. Results: The average GDI score for emergency department deceased patients was 224.46 ± 47.75, with 39 of 203 patients (19.2%) meeting the predefined basic criterion for a good death (mean GDI item score ≥5). Linear regression results indicated that the patient’s age at death, educational level (college or above), awareness of impending death, physical care provided by physicians, environmental comfort, accessibility of medical resources, and the length of the final hospitalization/observation stay were influencing factors for the level of good death (P < 0.05). A sensitivity model additionally adjusting for time from death to survey showed that the recall interval was not significantly associated with GDI score and did not materially change the main findings. Conclusion: The level of good death among emergency department deceased patients urgently needs improvement. Particular attention and enhancement should be directed towards the dimensions of care that significantly impact the good death level.
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