A qualitative study on end-of-life psycho-familial tasks for older Chinese terminally-Ill Singaporeans

• Main Author: Wong, Su Ting
• Other Authors: Ho Hau Yan Andy
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology; DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Phenomenology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/77242
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Background and Aim: The completion of psycho-familial tasks is essential for older Chinese terminally ill Singaporeans to prepare for a good death that is in line with their values, beliefs, and end-of-life goals. However, Singaporean society lacks understanding in what these tasks are, what patients’ aims are for embarking on them, and the methods patients use to achieve those aims. Policies such as Advance Care Planning, which involve facilitating discussions on patients’ end-of-life goals, can be substantially improved if policy-planners better understand the tasks that Singaporeans find relevant to a good death. This would increase their eagerness to participate in the currently under-utilised ACP. Society would then be able to equip Singaporeans in achieving the good death they desire. Method: Four patient-caregiver dyads participated in the Family Dignity Intervention study. They were interviewed on two occasions each, with their interview data utilised for this study, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results and Discussion: Findings were categorised into two overarching categories. The first, Expressions of Sentiment, contained the themes Expressions Beseeching Forgiveness; Expressions of Love; and lastly, Expressions of Gratitude. The second overarching category was Arrangements and Instructions for the Family, which contained the themes Ensuring Continued Familial-Care; Ensuring Family Understanding in Treatment Goals; and lastly, Advice for Family. Implications of the findings on the current Advance Care Planning framework are discussed, with relevant suggestions made while taking into account the increasingly pressing demands of the ageing population and the cultural needs and norms of the older Singaporean-Chinese population.