ÇOCUKLARDA GASTROSTOMİ PROSEDÜRÜ ÖNCESİ VE SONRASI EBEVEYNLERIN TUTUMU, BAKIŞ AÇISI VE DENEYİMLERİ: KANTİTATİF ÇALIŞMALARIN SİSTEMATİK DERLEMESİ

Abstract

It is important to understand caregivers’ need for support from healthcare provider and the effect of gastrostomy tube feeding (G-tube feeding) on the lives of children and their caregivers before and after gastrostomy procedure. This systematic review aims to identify the opinions, attitudes and experiences of the caregivers related with G-tube feeding. We reviewed quantitative studies in English that deal with opinions, experiences and attitudes of caregivers before and after children’s gastrostomy procedure. In consultation with a medical librarian, we reviewed quantitative studies on our subject that were published up to 10 May 2015 by using five electronic databases, namely, CINAHL, PubMED, PSYCINFO, SCOPUS and Ovid Cochrane database of Systematic Reviewsfor quantitative studies. The quality of reviewed studies was evaluated by using JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Observational Studies. We identified 1897 citations and only eight studies from the citation list met the inclusion criteria. Five studies collected data after G-tube placement whereas the remaining three studies collected data during both the pre-procedural and post-procedural period. In six of these studies, outcomes were assessed by using objective criteria. None of the studies used questionnaires, whose reliability and validity were assessed for the country that the studies were conducted at. Caregivers in five of these studies expressed positive outcomes, such as, decreasing stress levels, increased satisfaction for the children and their parents, and improvements in the quality of life and the communication between the children and their parents. Three studies found both positive and negative impacts of G-tube placement on the lives of children and caregivers. Factors, such as, difficulty in reaching a final decision on G-Tube placement, inadequate information provided by healthcare professionals, restricted mobility, stress related with G-tube feeding, insufficient postoperative education program, and fear of unintentional loss of the gastrostomy button, were expressed as negative outcomes of G-tube feeding. Although some studies state that feeding with gastrostomy tube facilitates the lives of children and caregivers, some studies show that the gastrostomy tube adversely affects the lives of children and families. As a result, healthcare professionals should tend to inform families about all aspects of the procedure during the gastrostomy procedure, knowing these positive and negative consequences from studies.