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Associate Professor

Edward Poon

Deputy Cluster Director
Deputy Program Leader (Nursing BSN-MSN)
PhD, Monash University, Australia
Cluster:
Health and Social Sciences
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Biography

Edward Poon Wing Hong is the Deputy Cluster Director / Associate Professor in the Health and Social Sciences department at the Singapore Institute of Technology, He holds Infection Control Certificate, Adv Diploma in Neuroscience, ACLP2.0,ELNEC trainer, Bachelors of Health Science from University of Sydney; Master Degree in Science (Palliative Care) at the King’s College London and PhD from Monash University. He started his nursing career in the 1980s in the restructured hospital and later ventured out working overseas. In 1999, he took up the position of the Director of Nursing at Dover Park Hospice and later the joint Director of Nursing of both Dover Park Hospice and  HCA Hospice Home Care, helping them to build on the psychosocial skills and staff support. He has setup the caregiver training centre and programme to teach and support the caregiver who was managing loved one with end of life issues. He then moved to Ang Mio Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital to take on the Chief Nurse position, where he setup the palliative care team and the transitional home care team. A/Prof is known expert in palliative care, he also conducts research on psychosocial support in the hospice and makes changes with the results finding. In 2019, he took up the position as a Director Nursing and later promote to Chief Nurse at St Luke's Elder Care, where he help to setup the nursing home and the nursing services . He also set up the palliative care team at the nursing home. 

He has numerous articles related to palliative care and end-of-life. He was appointed as the Adjunct Assistant Professor of Singapore National University and later to Adjunct Associate Professor, Alice Lee Centre of Nursing Studies to teach palliative care and now he has appointment with Taiwan as a visiting professor and NUHS as the adjunct Principal Nurse Educator. He sits at various national committee such as the chairperson palliative care nursing competency framework taskforce, Chairperson of  palliative care care chapter, trainer for gericare by KTPH. Presently he is the member of the medifund committe of Lions Home for the elders and member of the ACP training and development workgroup

 In 2004, he was awarded the President Nurses Award and the Healthcare Humanity award.  In 2025 he was awarded, SUSS Teaching Awards 2025.

ORCID : https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5213-4340

 

 

 

 

SIT Appointments

  • Deputy Cluster Director
    – Present
  • Deputy Program Leader (Nursing BSN-MSN)
    – Present
  • Clinical Lead (MHSc Organ Transplant Nursing)
    –

Education

  • ACLP 2.0
    IAL ,
  • PhD
    Monash University , Australia
  • MSc Palliative Care
    King’s College London , United Kingdom
  • Bachelor of Health Science
    University of Sydney , Australia
  • Advanced Diploma in Nursing (Neuroscience)
    Nangyang Polytechnic , Singapore
  • Certificate in Infection Control
    University of HongKong , Hong Kong SAR China

Achievements

  • SUSS Teaching Award 2025
  • President Nurses Award
    –
  • Health Care Humanity Award
    –

Professional Certification

  • Singapore Nursing Board
    Singapore

Professional Memberships

  • Singapore Nurses Association
    – Present
  • Palliative Care Nurses Chapter
    –
  • Member of Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing(Singapore)
    –

Corporate Experience

  • Adj Principal Nurse Educator, NUHS
    Present
  • St John's Home for the Elderly
    Present
  • Chief Nurse, St Lukes Eldercare and St Luke's resienc
    –
  • Chief Nurse , Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hu Kwan Hospital
    –
  • Chief Nurse, SLEC and SLR
    –
  • Director Nursing, Dover Park Hospice
    –
  • Assistant Administrator, Lions Home for the Elder
    –
  • Infection Control Officer- St Andrew's Community Hospital
    –
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Research Interests

  • Palliative Care
  • Education
  • Qualitative Research & Innovation
  • Management
  • Communication
  • Loss and Grief and Psychosocial issue
  • Caregiver support
  • Spirituality & Existentialism
  • Phenomenology

Current Projects

  • Reconciling spiritual needs of elderly Malay/Muslim patients: Creating a Muslim-friendly healthcare environment.($83,450)(applying)
    – Present
  • Evaluation of the support systems for caregivers of cancer patients and caregiver activation.Getting grant$187,000
    – Present
  • Design of an automated diabetic neuropathy foot screening device.
    – Present
  • Validating EPAs of AMasters of Health Sciences in Rehabilitation Nursing Work-Study Programme in Singapore
    – Present
  • Transforming postgraduate nursing education: understanding Work-Study Models for Enhanced Clinical Training and upskilling of nursing workforce
    – Present
  • Automated diabetic foot screening device
    – Present
  • Cancer caregivers’ support in Singapore – challenges and solution
    – Present
  • Adherence to haemodialysis sessions and its impact on quality of life
    – Present
  • Effective of empowrent strategies improve palliative care patient outcomes and caregiver burden
    – Present
  • Adherence to haemodialysis sessions and its impact on quality of life
    – Present
  • Advance Care Planning in patients with multimorbidity: Nurses Role and Perspective
    – Present
  • Exploring colorectal cancer patient experiences and challenges with stoma bag
    – Present
  • Effective of Advance Care Planning among palliative patients in reducing nurses workload
    – Present
  • Impact of a wearable artifical kidney on quality of life in patients with end stage renal disease
    – Present
  • Among caregivers of pediatric patients receiving palliative care, how does home based care compared to hospital based care impact their quality of life.
    – Present
  • Death Cafe
    – Present
  • Discussion on end-of-life experiences (ELE) of patients among Singapore healthcare professionals in different clinical settings
    – Present
  • Project IMPACT: Intelligent Machine Application to Simulate difficult Conversation Training -Award $150,000
    – Present

Past Projects

  • Survey of End-of-Life Experiences of Patients Among Singapore Healthcare Professionals in Different Clinical Settings-
    –
  • Nurses perspectives on the factors hindering and supporting the integration of palliative care in the emergency department
    –
  • Exploring the resilience of registered nurses on the acute hospital when caring for oncology palliative patients
    –
  • what are the ethical deliemmas faced by healthcare providers in the context of palliative care and how dothey nagivate these challenges?
    –
  • Integrated Home Health
    –

    2023- Tote Board Project on Integrated Home Health- $1,150,909

  • Development of Live Lab
    –

    2023- Development of Live Lab at SLEC $500,000

  • Exploring effectiveness of mindfulness meditation in reducing burnout for palliative care nurses
    –
  • Explore the understanding of spirituality among palliative care patients in acute settings in Singapore
    –
  • examine the effectiveness of the SAGE and THYME model in improving communication among newly graduated palliative care nurses
    –
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of the Balint approach to reduce burnout among emergency department registered nurse working during pandemic outbreak in Singapore
    –
  • The accuracy of self swabbing as an alternative approach for the current panademic in Singapore Covid -19
    –
  • Understand attitudes and perceptions of final year nursing students toward palliative care nursing.
    –
  • The effectiveness of massage therapy to reduce pain amongst cancer patients in hospice in Singapore.
    –
  • Set up learning hub at SLEC and LI of AIC
    –

    2020- Set up learning hub at SLEC and LI of AIC  - $220,000

  • Exploring the understanding of intensive care nurses in managing patients requiring palliative care.
    –
  • Experiences of nurses delivering palliative care at nursing home.
    –
  • Exploring palliative care in general ward
    –
  • Understanding psychiatric patients, experience of being physically restrained in the psychiatric unit in Singapore.
    –
  • Developing an educational programme for nurses working across healthcare settings on the use of restraints for adults.
    –
  • Setting up of AIC learning Centre at SLEC
    –

    2018 - Setting up of AIC learning Centre at SLEC- ($200,000)

  • Experience of registered nurses conducting early mobilization of patients after general surgery
    –
  • What are the experiences of nurses using the eMAR in the ward settings
    –
  • A qualitative descriptive study on the experience of younger supervisors and older nurses.”
    –
  • What is the perception of older Chinese Singaporean towards palliative care
    –
  • Exploring the lived experience of Chinese family caregivers caring for end of life cancer patients at home: A phenomenological study in Singapore.
    –
  • A qualitative study on the experiences of and expectations from compassion fatigue among nurses in a community hospital in Singapore.”
    –
  • A change proposal: A nurse led support group for caregivers of patients with advanced dementia in a community care setting”
    –
  • A qualitative study on dignity amongst nurses caring for older people in community hospital.”
    –
  • A Stress Management Education Programme to reduce burnout in Singaporean registered nurses in Intensive Care Unit- A change proposal
    –
  • Implementation of a nurse led heart failure clinic : A change proposal to reduce re-hospitalization rates in Singapore.
    –
  • A change proposal on implementing bedside handover to support patient- centred care in acute hospital settings.”
    –
  • Foreign Workers Caregivers Training Programme
    –

    2015 - Foreign Workers CaregiversTraining Programme.(Project :- $50,366)

  • The descriptive study of patient with scaral sore.
    –
  • Developing an end of life care teaching programme for staff caring for patients with advanced dementia in nursing home.
    –
  • A Descriptive qualitative study on nurses’ view of their work in a local nurse led unit in a community hospital”
    –
  • Patient & Caregiver Empowerment & Disease Prevention
    –

    2014 - TE001 AMK-THKH - Patient & Cg Empowerment & Disease Prevention. Grant $148,086 for 2 years(Project)

  • Community Hospital Respiratory Support Service
    –

    2014 - Tote board Community Hospital Respiratory Support Service $877419.50(2 years)

  • Community Health Centre Project
    –
    1. Community Health Centre Project ( $887000)
  • Use of phone apps in improving nursing service at ER.
    –
  • Evaluation of the nursing meditation program on community nurses stress.
    –
  • Coping strategies of family caregivers caring for elderly with stroke at home in Singapore. A qualitative study.
    –
  • The experience of Singapore Living with Congestive Cardiac Failure condition and their self-management
    –

    2011- The experience of Singapore Living with Congestive Cardiac Failure condition and their self-management.(MOH grants $9500)

  • Last Office: Developing an evidence based for practice
    –

    Last offices: developing an evidence base for practice’. Grant $66795

  • Attitude of nurses towards palliative care:an exploratory study in Singapore
    –

    Attitudes of nurses towards palliative care: an exploratory study in Singapore. Grant $19350

     

  • Experience of older Singaporean Chinese women living with chronic conditions and their self management strategies
    –
  • The Singapore Palliative Care Project
    –

    2006 - The Singapore Palliative Care Project-Grant $332227.00

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Journal Papers

  • Edward Poon, Seng Hock Martin Ang & Sheena Ramazanu. (2023). Community based end of life care in Singapore and nursing care implications for older adults in post COVID -19 world. Current Opinion Supportive Palliative Care,Sep 1;17(3): 219-223.doi: 10.1097/SPC.0000000000000662. Epub 2023 Jun 27

     

  • Tham X C, Vanessa Phua ,J X,Evelyn Ho, Y,Yang T T,Nicole Chen,YC,Mabel Lepw,QH,Seah,XY,Vivien Wu Xi,Zhou WT & Edward Poon,WH. Train-Your-Brain Program for Informal Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Community-Based Cognitive Intervention Study to Promote Healthy Dietary Behaviors and Social Participation.Preprints,1020944

  • Vivian C BARRERA, Wing Hong Poon Edward, Shiela P Arroyo, Theik Di Oo, Zay Yar Aung and SC Lim. Nurses’ Perspective on Using iPads as Part of Person Centered Care in an Acute Hospital Setting. Arch Neurol & Neurosci. 13(3): 2022. ANN.MS.ID.000811. DOI: 10.33552/ANN.2022.13.000811

  • Noorhazlina Ali , Philomena Anthony , Wee Shiong Lim , Mei Sian Chong , Edward Poon Wing Hong , Vicki Drury  and Mark Chan .(2021). Exploring Differential Perceptions and Barriers to Advance Care Planning in Dementia among Asian Patient–Caregiver Dyads—A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18, 7150. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137150

  • Suryadi,L, Ricky,S. Yenna,T. & Poon W.H. (2019). Integrating palliative care to improve the care of children living with HIV in Indonesia. Progress in Palliative Care, 27(4): 147- 153.

  • Lim S.C , Adrian Koh J.H. & Poon .W.H.(2017). Electronic display board in operating theatres for easy patient identification. BMJ Open Quality , 6 : 1 – 6.

  • Lim S.C & Poon .W.H.(2016). Restraint Use in the management f the elderly with dementia in hospital. Internal Medicine Research; 1(2): 1-4

     

  • Lim S.C & Poon .W.H.(2016). Restraint Use in the management f the elderly with dementia in hospital. Internal Medicine Research; 1(2): 1-4

  • Diana Chan,H,K & Poon,WH.(2015). To explore the factors affecting the patient’s choice of treatment for osteoporosis in a community hospital in Singapore.  Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15), May 19-22,2015 in Washington, DC

  • Diana Chan,H,K & Poon,WH.(2015). To explore the factors affecting the patient’s choice of treatment for osteoporosis in a community hospital in Singapore.  Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO15), May 19-22,2015 in Washington, DC

  • O’Connor, Poon W.H.’ Hsu .C.Y.(2015). The complexities of communicating palliative care in Chinese based language.Progress palliative care:23(2):85-87.

  • O’Connor, M; Beattie, J; Poon,WH; McKechnie, R; Lee, Kkeow. (2014) End-of-life care needs of people dying from stroke in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore: A space for palliative care. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2014: 35-44

  • Poon, WH,O Connor,M, Chow, YL & Premarani, K(2012) The lived experience of older Chinese Singaporean with life threatening illness in a inpatient hospice. Progress in Palliative Care;20(1):19-25.

  • Joyce Yee HA,Chow, YL & Poon,WH.(2013). Literature review: coping strategies of family caregivers caring for stroke survivors.Singapore Nursing Journal;40(2):19-27

  • Maria Huibing Lim ,Chow, YL & Poon,WH.(2013). Evaluation of meditation programs utilised by nurses to reduce stress:A literature review.Singapore Nursing Journal;40(3):11-20.

  • Payne,S., Chan,N., Davies,D., Poon,E., Connor,S. & Goh,G. (2012). Supportive, palliative , and end of life care for patients with cancer in Asia: resource- stratified guidelines from Asian Oncology Summit 2012. Lancet oncology; 13:492-500.Impact factor 22

     

  • Chan,Tuck Wai, Poon, Wing Hong & Desley Hegney.(2011) What Nurses need to know about Buddhist perspectives of end of life care and dying .Progress in Palliative Care;19(2):1-5.

  • Tay, Z. R., Poon,W.H and Hegney.D.J. (2011) “A qualitative systematic review on the experiences of self-management in community-dwelling older women living with chronic illnesses.” JBI Library of Systematic Reviews 9 (62): 2778-2828

  • Chong, PH & Poon, WH (2010) The lived experience of Palliative Care Home Care Nurse in Singapore. Singapore Medical Journal;15(3):151-157.

  • O'Connor, M., O'Brien, A., Griffiths, D., Poon, E., Chin, J., Payne, S. & Nordin, R. (2010). What is the meaning of palliative care in the Asia- Pacific Region? Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology. Published on-line July 23, 2010. Impact Factor 0.232.

  • Mabel Leow, Vicki, D, Poon, WH. (2010) A qualitative exploration of patients’ experiences of music therapy in an inpatient hospice in Singapore. International Journal of Palliative Nursing ;16(7):344-350.

  • Poon, WH & O’ Connor,M (2009) Development of Palliative Care in Singapore: An Overview. Singapore Nursing Journal; 36(3): 48-56

  • Poon WH (2008) Palliative Care Nurses Chapter.Singapore Nursing Journal;35(4):34-35.

  • Poon, WH,O Connor,M, Chow, YL & Premarani, K(2008) Palliative Care Nursing Education in Singapore(1999-2008). Singapore Nursing Journal;35(4):5-8.

  • Poon, WH.(2006)An evaluation of  the effectiveness of the palliative care foundation course. Journal of Palliative Care;22(3):234-235.

  • Lang,SP,Poon, WH,Kamala,D &Emily, Ang,NK.(2006)Patient’s experience of Spirituality care:A phenomenological Approach. Singapore Nursing Journal.33 (3):42-47.

  • Sarojini,P,Mak,SF,Choo,CP,Ting,TN & Poon, WH(2005) Exploration of Mynamar nursing working at an inpatient hospice in Singapore,Singapore Nursing Journal,32(3);44-50.

     

  • Poon, WH.(2001) Palliative management of fungating wound, Singapore Nursing Journal 28(2) 4-7

  • Poon, WH (2000) Palliative Nursing in Singapore, Singapore Nursing Journal. 27(4) 5-6 

  • Athi, L,M & Poon,WH(2000)Infection control in long term care facility,

    Singapore Nursing Journal. 27(1) 16-17

Conferences

  • Keynote Speaker for the Caregiver Week by the Compassionate Network on Mental wellness to caregiver

  • Speaker of the International Conference of Ho9listic Care:Person Directed Care at Taiwan Tzu Chi Hospital

  • 2024- Keynote Speaker of the International and National Nursing Conference 2024, Nursing Innovation and Global Health for Wellness Toward Sustainable Development on  Nursing Innovation for Long Term Care by Christian University of Thailand

     

  • 2024- Speaker of the SHC Multidisciplinary Palliative Care Seminar : Exploring the lived experience of Chinese family caregivers caring for end of life cancer patients at home: A phenomenological study.

  • 2024- SIT Professor for A Day :”Preparing the New Ageing Facilities for the Future “.

  • 2023- Keynote speaker at International Health Conference Taiwan

  • 2021- Speaker at the 7th Singapore Palliative Care Conference

  • 2021- Speaker at Asia Continence Nursing Congress 2021

Books

  • The Palliative Nursing Competency Framework (PNCF) is a guide to provide clarity on the roles, responsibilities and associated competencies for nurses working in the palliative care settings.

    Nurses, employers and course providers may use the PNCF as a reference to set job role expectations, develop training roadmaps and design workplace-based nursing education courses. 

    The PNCF is applicable to all settings ranging from primary care to acute care and community care. The framework lists 7 Job Role Profiles (JRPs) for all the 12 job roles identified in the palliative care nursing sector, and 14 Professional Competencies (PCs) organised into 4 competency domains.

    The Palliative Nursing Competency Framework Development Workgroup has identified the following 6 existing and emerging skill areas which are crucial in palliative care. Nurses are encouraged to further develop their competencies in these areas to improve the overall care plan for patients with life-limiting illnesses.

    1. Holistic symptom assessment and management

      Management of pain and other symptoms, including not only physical but also psychosocial and spiritual, should be assessed and addressed in a holistic manner instead of episodic care.

    2. Grief and Bereavement Support

      Providing a support system for patients, families, and caregivers to cope with losses during the patient’s illness journey, as well as bereavement.

    3. Psychosocial and Spirituality

      Apart for physical care, other aspects should also be taken into consideration such as psychosocial and spirituality which includes providing counselling and treating patients with dignity. Individualized psychosocial and spiritual care, regarding the patient as a whole, is key in promoting an appropriate response to the patient’s unique needs and the dying process.

    4. Inter-professional Collaboration

      Holistic care for patients would require close collaborations with other healthcare professionals such as doctors and therapists, as well as clinicians from other specialty areas.

    5. Conversations

      Palliative care nurses should be familiar with and initiate various conversations with patients, families, and caregivers as early as possible. These include conversations on Advance Care Planning, serious illnesses, and end-of-life care discussion.

    6. Outcome Measures
      Using analytical tools and methods to measure palliative care outcomes of patient’s health over time and influence disease modification by gaining insights to a patient’s illness and dying experience.

  • The National Strategy for Palliative Care, accepted by the Ministry of Health in 2012, outlined ten key goals for palliative care in Singapore. Among them was that there should be local standards of care to ensure the delivery of good quality palliative care

  • 2012- Living well with Heart Failure Self Management Program- Participant’s Workbook. ISBN:978-981-07-3654-5

  • Living well with Heart Failure Self Management Program- Facilitator Workbook. ISBN:978-981-07-3655-2

  • The Experience of Music Therapy in the Hospice. Publisher VDM Verlag DR Muller. ISBN 10: 3-639-16524-1/

  • 2023 National Strategy for Palliative Care Report

    With an ageing population and increasingly diverse healthcare needs, the demand for palliative care services is projected to rise.

    The National Strategy for Palliative Care (NSPC) Review Workgroup was convened in 2022 to evaluate gaps in the existing provision of palliative care over the past decade, chart out a vision for the sector, and formulate recommendations and guidance for implementing plans to achieve this vision.

    This report summarises the Workgroup’s findings, and proposes a new NSPC 2023 framework, which sets the future direction for the palliative care development in Singapore. The framework focuses on three focus areas of Access, Quality and Palliative Care Environment, with eleven recommendations, implementation plans and indicators to track progress. The Workgroup has also set out aspirational targets for the sector to achieve in the next 5 years, that will ensure better access, quality and palliative care environment for all.

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Teaching Modules

Nursing, BSc (Hons)

  • NUR1011 - Intermediate and Long Term Care
  • NUR2801 - Honours Thesis
  • NUR3003 - Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
  • HSC4008 - Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Past

  • qualitative research
  • Evidence based care
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Innovation
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