Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2025

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Proxy medical decision-making: national survey
Andrew Ian-Hong Phua1,2, Camellia Zakaria3, Pavithren Vs Pakianathan4,5
1National University Health System, Singapore drewphua@gmail.com.
Objectives:
Population ageing and increased care needs lead to adults making consequential medical decisions for others, potentially impacting treatment and end of life. We aim to describe the prevalence of medical decision-making by proxy among the national population and associated demographic and care factors.
Methods:
We designed a cross-sectional online survey with a nationally representative adult cohort with an 80% participation rate. 311 Singapore residents completed the survey.
Results:
73% of respondents reported having ever assisted others with medical decisions, while 58% have ever assisted with activities of daily living (ADLs), and 88% with instrumental ADLs (IADLs). Having a digital caregiver account, having a lasting power of attorney as a donee and assisting with ADLs and IADLs are significantly associated with proxy medical decision-making. Gender, ethnicity, income and age did not appear to have a significant impact.
Conclusions:
A majority of Singapore adults assist others with caregiving tasks and medical decision-making. These helping behaviours are often performed informally, which may increase decisional burden for caregivers and potential abuse of power.
More Related Videos
06:55Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
Published on: January 8, 2020
06:05The Participant-Reported Implementation Update and Score PRIUS: A Novel Method for Capturing Implementation-Related Data Over Time
Published on: February 19, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Surveys
Standards of Care II
Ethical Dilemmas II
Ethical Standards II
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy...
Obedience
Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...