Patients Living with Home Enteral Tube Feeding : Side effects, health-related quality of life and nutritional care

• The aim of the study was to examine patients’ perceptions of side effects, health-related quality of life (HRQL), generalhealth, and nutritional care among patients receiving home enteral tube feeding (HETF) at two occasions after dischargefrom hospital. Three questionnaires, one study-specific, the Short Form 12 (SF-12) and the Health Index (HI), were sent topatients with HETF (n=62) twice, two weeks after discharge from hospital and two months later. Forty patients respondedtwo weeks after discharge and out of these 29 patients also responded after two months. Data were collected in centralSweden from March 2006 to January 2010. Side effects were common at both points of data collection (70% of thepatients after two weeks and 72% after two month). Patients using bolus feeding reported significantly fewer side effectsthan patients using intermittent feeding. HRQL and HI scores for the total group were low at both points of data collection.The bolus feeding group reported significantly higher physical HRQL and emotional HI than the intermittent feedinggroup did. Most patients were satisfied with the information and support they received from the health care team. Thisstudy has revealed that patients treated with HETF experienced side effects limiting their daily life to a great extent.Differences in HRQL related to feeding methods were found. Individualized support and regular controls are needed inorder to meet patient needs. Bolus feeding may be a suitable feeding method to improve well-being.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Home enteral tube feeding

Side effects

Health-related quality of life

General health

Bolus feeding

Nursing

Omvårdnad

Nursing Science

Omvårdnad

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)