Project title
Understanding informed consent and promoting effective risk communication with families and representatives in healthcare settings in a multi-ethnic Asian cultural context
Country
Singapore
Background
Decision-making by family members and appointed representatives on behalf of patients is often complex and involves significant uncertainty and stress.
Supporting these decision-makers across care settings is critical to healthcare quality. At the same time, ensuring that they make ethically well-justified decisions is important to protect vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, and other patients who have diminished or lost capacity. However, there is limited understanding of how psychological and sociocultural factors interact to shape the risk perceptions of families and representatives and their decision-making across care settings in Asian contexts.
Summary
We will integrate psychological, social, and ethical-legal frameworks to examine how families and appointed representatives make informed decisions on behalf of patients in the Singaporean multi-ethnic healthcare context.
Using a mixed-methods approach, it draws on cognitive psychology, philosophy and applied ethics, and health communication across multiple phases to explore the processes that shape proxy decision-making.
Outcome
This project will generate essential insight into proxy decision-making in a multicultural Asian setting. The findings will inform the development of supportive tools to enhance decision quality and provide both decisional and emotional support for families and appointed representatives.
Ultimately, the recommendations will help healthcare professionals work more effectively with families and representatives and strengthen communication throughout the decision-making process.