Artificial Nutrition And Hydration Research Articles

Urban people’s preferences for life-sustaining treatment or artificial nutrition and hydration in advance decisions

BackgroundThe Patient Right to Autonomy Act (PRAA), implemented in Taiwan in 2019, enables the creation of advance decisions (AD) through advance care planning (ACP). This legal framework allows for the withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (LST) or artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in situations like irreversible coma, vegetative state, severe dementia, or unbearable pain. This study aims to investigate preferences for LST or ANH across various clinical conditions, variations in participant preferences, and factors influencing these preferences among urban residents.MethodsEmploying a survey of legally structured AD documents and convenience sampling for data collection, individuals were enlisted from Taipei City Hospital, serving as the primary trial and demonstration facility for ACP in Taiwan since the commencement of the PRAA in its inaugural year. The study examined ADs and ACP consultation records, documenting gender, age, welfare entitlement, disease conditions, family caregiving experience, location of ACP consultation, participation of second-degree relatives, and the intention to participate in ACP.ResultsData from 2337 participants were extracted from electronic records. There was high consistency in the willingness to refuse LST and ANH, with significant differences noted between terminal diseases and extremely severe dementia. Additionally, ANH was widely accepted as a time-limited treatment, and there was a prevalent trend of authorizing a health care agent (HCA) to make decisions on behalf of participants. Gender differences were observed, with females more inclined to decline LST and ANH, while males tended towards accepting full or time-limited treatment. Age also played a role, with younger participants more open to treatment and authorizing HCA, and older participants more prone to refusal.ConclusionDiverse preferences in LST and ANH were shaped by the public’s current understanding of different clinical states, gender, age, and cultural factors. Our study reveals nuanced end-of-life preferences, evolving ADs, and socio-demographic influences. Further research could explore evolving preferences over time and healthcare professionals’ perspectives on LST and ANH decisions for neurological patients..

Advance Care Planning Among Adult Patients and Their End-of-Life Care Preferences.

To explore people's intentions to opt for a good death when planning for their end-of-life care, this study examined the type of end-of-life care preferred by patients receiving advance care planning (ACP) consulting services for five specified clinical and disability conditions and possible factors affecting their decision-making. This cross-sectional study analyzed 1303 hospital patients and 1032 nonhospital patients who attended a clinic providing ACP consulting services. This study revealed the following two results. First, patients who were older, were female, did not have an appointed surrogate decision-maker, and were nonhospital patients had a higher intention of not receiving life-sustaining treatments (LST) or artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) under the five specified clinical and disability conditions. Second, people who were the least willing to receive LST or ANH under the following conditions (in descending order): permanent vegetative state, severe dementia, irreversible coma, other disease conditions recognized by the central competent authority, and end-of-life stage.

Recomendaciones nutricionales en cuidados paliativos para pacientes con enfermedades avanzadas y al final de la vida

Los cuidados paliativos (CP) se basan en un abordaje multidisciplinar del paciente y su familia para prevenir y aliviar el sufrimiento del paciente, al promover y mantener una óptima calidad de vida hasta la muerte. La alimentación desempeña un papel fundamental en la vida de las personas. Más allá de la nutrición, el hecho de que las personas moribundas tengan anorexia como parte de sus síntomas es difícil de aceptar, ya que significa admitir la muerte. Un plan multidisciplinar de nutrición es fundamental, que se adapte al estadio de la enfermedad, siempre considerando que los beneficios deben superar los posibles efectos adversos. Como parte integral de la CP, la nutrición e hidratación artificiales (NHA) pueden aumentar la supervivencia y mejorar la calidad de vida en pacientes seleccionados en función de su patología. Por tanto, el soporte nutricional debe prescribirse de acuerdo con el estadio de la enfermedad del paciente y los requerimientos energéticos y proteicos, analizando la tolerabilidad y, sobre todo, respetando los deseos del paciente, la familia y el cuidador. Es fundamental conocer sus preferencias y lograr una comunicación eficiente dentro del equipo de salud. Al hacerlo, es posible alcanzar un entendimiento compartido de los objetivos del tratamiento paliativo entre todos los miembros involucrados. Esta revisión narrativa tiene como objetivo describir las recomendaciones nutricionales generales y específicas en la etapa avanzada y al final de la vida de algunas de las enfermedades primarias en las que los CP desempeñan un papel vital para ofrecer un tratamiento completo a estos pacientes específicos.

Food as Love: Ethical and Moral Dilemmas in Withdrawal of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration in the Minimally Conscious State.

Supportive Palliative Care and Hospice professionals frequently attend to Minimally Conscious State (MCS) patients near the end of life and in so doing, face decisions over maintenance or withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration. Although both withholding and withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in such circumstances are considered by experts in ethics and law to be acceptable, not all families nor health care professionals agree. This paper will explore basic aspects of serious brain injuries, especially MCS, the psychological role of food in interpersonal relationships, and lessons from clinical ethics that can help in goals of care discussions about withdrawal of ANH.

Views of Registered Dietitians Compared to Speech-Language Pathologists on Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life.

To analyze and compare the knowledge and opinions of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) about artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in a terminal illness. Beliefs of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) were also considered and compared against RDN data. This is a descriptive analysis utilizing survey responses from RDNs and SLPs regarding ANH in a case study patient with advanced dementia. There was a strong belief among RDNs that ANH at end of life (EOL) would improve nutritional status, although a correlation was found between those in favor of ANH and believing it was ethical to withhold ANH at EOL (R2 = 0.109, p = 0.002). Responses indicated that SLPs need more education regarding ANH techniques, while RDNs felt ANH would improve aspiration risk. Place of employment, religion and age of respondents were also found to impact beliefs. Clinicians, specifically RDNs, working with patients at EOL need more evidenced-based education on the risks and benefits of ANH. Decisions regarding care of patients at EOL should be void of clinicians' personal bias which may affect ethical treatment in the clinical setting. Further controlled trials must be performed before claims can be made regarding ANH at EOL.

Nurses' perceived knowledge and benefits of artificial nutrition and hydration for patients nearing death: A survey among Jordanian nurses.

Existing research highlights the importance of nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards the provision of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) for patients with advanced cancer; however, the perspectives of Arabic and Islamic nurses have not yet been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to examine Jordanian nurses' knowledge, attitudes and perceived benefits in providing ANH for patients with advanced cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Participants comprised 183 nurses (93.5% response rate). Around 80% received no training on ANH. Nurses had poor knowledge regarding ANH, with a mean score of 5.12 (SD=2.27) out of 15. Overall, nurses had positive attitudes towards ANH care (M=3.09, SD=0.29); however, the subscale analysis showed that nurses held inconspicuous beliefs about ANH benefits (M=2.67, SD=0.71) and strongly believed that ANH places a high burden on patients (M=3.50, SD=0.69). Nurses from government hospitals showed significantly higher ANH knowledge, as well as positive beliefs regarding ANH benefits, compared to less educated nurses. Jordanian nurses have limited knowledge of ANH. Their positive attitude regarding ANH for terminally ill patients could be driven by cultural norms and beliefs, rather than education. Introducing ANH in nursing curricula and in-hospital services could have a positive impact on nurses' knowledge.

Improving Patient Preparedness and Confidence in Discussing Advance Directives for End-of-Life Care with Health Care Providers in the United States and Japan.

The low completion rate of advance directives (ADs) has received attention in Japan and the United States, as policy makers and health care professionals face aging populations with multiple comorbidities. Among the barriers to AD planning, cultural values and attitudes appear to be particularly influential. A comparison of culturally distinct societies provides a deeper understanding of these barriers. Through such an approach, this study identifies strategies for increasing AD planning among late-middle-age Japanese and US individuals. After giving informed consent for the Institutional Review Board-approved study, Japanese and US respondents (45-65 y; 50% female) without ADs completed a language-appropriate online survey. Participants were asked to review a decision aid as part of a scenario-based physician consultation regarding artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH). Hypotheses were analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling. Important similarities were identified across the 2 groups. After reviewing the decision aid, both samples strongly preferred "no ANH." Respondents who strongly valued either self-reliance or interpersonal relationships experienced greater preparedness for AD planning. In both countries, greater decision preparedness and positive death attitude predicted greater confidence to discuss care options with a provider. Finally, cultural values predicted preference for family participation: respondents with a strong interdependent self-concept desired more family involvement, whereas high independents preferred less. Findings indicate the importance of documenting care preferences and accounting for individual differences. To increase AD adoption, providers should identify patient segments likely to benefit most from the interventions. Targeting individuals in both countries who value self-reliance and interpersonal relationships appears to be a good place to begin. Such individuals can be identified clinically through administration of validated measures used in this study.

Oncology and Palliative Care Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Artificial Nutrition and Hydration for Patients at End of Life in Italy: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Nutrition is a basic patients' need and an important component of nursing. End-of-life cancer patients can experience difficulties in eating and drinking, sometimes requiring artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH). Nurses' knowledge and attitudes greatly influence nursing care. Nurses may lack knowledge of ANH. To date, no study has explored the knowledge and attitudes of oncology and palliative care nurses toward end-of-life ANH. To describe oncology and palliative care nurses' knowledge of and attitudes toward ANH. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 7 regions of Italy using the Italian version of the Questionnaire on Knowledge and Attitudes in Providing ANH for Terminal Cancer Patients. Attitudes were divided into benefits and burdens of providing ANH. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. High percentages of oncology and palliative care nurses showed reasonable knowledge about ANH. More disagreement was evidenced about benefits and burdens of ANH, and lower importance was given to them. Some misconceptions and a low level of awareness exist among some nurses about ANH. More nursing studies should be conducted and extended to different care settings. Moreover, guidelines should be reinforced with a nursing perspective to better define nurses' role in the decision-making process on ANH. This exploration of nurses' knowledge of and attitudes toward ANH in end-of-life cancer patients can contribute to an understanding of how nurses can be involved in better meeting cancer patients' nutritional needs at the end of life.

Exploring Nurses' Involvement in Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life: A Scoping Review.

This review aimed to summarize existing nursing literature to provide an overview of the extent, range, and nature of nurses' involvement in artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) at the end of life and to map the key concepts underpinning nurses' involvement in ANH. A scoping review was designed following the methodological framework guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley and the recommendations for advancing the methodology by Levac etal. An inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted according to the guidelines by Elo and Kyngäs. Thirty-nine articles were identified. Content analysis revealed 1 main category: "nurses' role in the decision-making process," with the 2 subcategories of "mediator" and "activator." The category and subcategories are influenced by the following generic categories: "being," "feeling," and "knowing," each of them constituted by 2 subcategories in their turn. Nurses perform the roles of activator and mediator. Their ability to establish good relationships and their attitudes enable the creation of teamwork and closeness to patients and family: relationships and attitudes are the subcategories of the "being" category. The category "feeling" represents the ways nurses experience the decision-making process, which can raise ethical and moral dilemmas and cause emotional responses. For these reasons, nurses have to create the right balance between personal-self and professional-self. The category "knowing" includes nurses' clinical and ethical knowledge about ANH. It emerges that deep clinical and ethical knowledge of ANH is necessary to provide consistent, adequate care at end of life.

Shared decision making with oncologists and palliative care specialists effectively increases the documentation of the preferences for do not resuscitate and artificial nutrition and hydration in patients with advanced cancer: a model testing study

BackgroundCommunication in do not resuscitate (DNR) and artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) at the end of life is a key component of advance care planning (ACP) which is essential for patients with advanced cancer to have cares concordant with their wishes. The SOP model (Shared decision making with Oncologists and Palliative care specialists) aimed to increase the rate of documentation on the preferences for DNR and ANH in patients with advanced cancer.MethodsThe SOP model was implemented in a national cancer treatment center in Taiwan from September 2016 to August 2018 for patients with advanced cancer visiting the oncology outpatient clinic. The framework was based on the model of shared decision making as “choice talk” initiated by oncologists with “option talk” and “decision talk” conducted by palliative care specialists.ResultsAmong 375 eligible patients, 255 patients (68%) participated in the model testing with the mean age of 68.5 ± 14.7 years (mean ± SD). Comparing to 52.3% of DNR documentation among patients with advanced cancer who died in our hospital, the rate increased to 80.9% (206/255) after the decision talk in our model. Only 6.67% (n = 17) of the participants documented their preferences on ANH after the model. A worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status was the only statistically significant associating factor with a higher rate of DNR documentation in the multiple logistic regression model.ConclusionsThe SOP model significantly increased the rate of DNR documentation in patients with advanced cancer in this pilot study. Dissemination of the model could help the patients to receive care that is concordant with their wishes and be useful for the countries having laws on ACP.

Common, Difficult Questions about Providing Nutrition at End of Life: Bedside Application of Catholic Moral Teaching.

There is much confusion surrounding how to interpret provision of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) at the bedside in complicated clinical circumstances. The specific scenario that prompted these questions was a request by a patient and her family to remove a feeding tube that had become, in the patient's eyes and opinion, disproportionately burdensome in her particular set of clinical circumstances. This clinically relevant article can be viewed as a bedside interpretation of Catholic bioethical teachings on provision of ANH to the dying patient. Please note that this article does not address specific ethical issues that pertain to persistent vegetative state, which is beyond the scope of this particular discussion.

Strategies for home nutritional support in dementia care and its relevance in low-middle-income countries.

Older people suffering from dementia are prone to develop malnutrition. Ensuring adequate nutrition among such patients has always been a challenge for the carers due to the pathological and chronic nature of the disease. In this article, the author tries to analyze the use of five different strategies in providing adequate nutrition for such patients in their own homes by the carers using a narrative literature review method. The strategies include nutrition screening and assessment, training and education program for the caregiver, mealtime environment and routine modification, provision of nutritional supplements, and role of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH). An attempt was made to critically engage the readers while exploring the feasibility and challenges involved in implementing such strategies in resource-poor settings like low-middle-income countries. The article concludes that the first four strategies should be used in tandem to prevent the risk of malnutrition. It does not recommend ANH and concludes that it does not bring in any added benefit and may worsen the quality of life.

Unresponsive wakefulness syndrome: Outcomes from a vicious circle.

Unresponsive wakefulness syndrome: Outcomes from a vicious circle.

Artificial nutrition and hydration for children and young people towards end of life: consensus guidelines across four specialist paediatric palliative care centres

There is a paucity of evidence on the role, use, benefit and challenges of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) in children at end of life. Parents express the difficulty they...

Voluntary Refusal of Foods and Fluids: A Comparative Survey Across Health Disciplines (P12-044-19)

ObjectivesTo compare differences in attitudes, beliefs and knowledge of Voluntary Refusal of Foods and Fluids among disciplines and health care providers. This project is of a comparative nature in keeping with One Health paradigms, and the first of its kind. MethodsA cross-sectional, incentivized, email survey of human health care providers, veterinary personnel, professional caregivers and lay persons. Questionnaire development through sequential focus groups of experts in palliative care was validated, piloted and revised accordingly. Data was acquired through Qualtrics, and analyzed with Nvivo and SPSS. Descriptives, correlations and regressions were employed, along with other non-parametric methods for analyses. The research was approved by IRB and Human Subjects Committees at the primary institution where the research was conducted. ResultsThe demographics significantly correlated with parameters of Voluntary Refusal of Foods and Fluids (VRFF) were religiosity, education and profession. Interestingly, geographic locale, method of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (ANH), and “patient wishes” were not influential. There was a lack of uniformity in decision-making. Age was inversely related to institution of ANH in VRFF (P < 0.001). Veterinary personnel showed far greater fiscal conservancy for treatment of VRFF (P < 0.01), and were more willing to try ANH with poor prognoses (P < 0.05) versus human healthcare providers. Caregivers were far more likely to oppose intervention in patients with VRFF (P < .0.01). ConclusionsEtiology leading to VRFF was most important, as was experience with health care, death, ethics and technological advancement. Limitations include inability to show causality with cross sectional data. Further research on end of life decisions is required in light of the burgeoning geriatric population worldwide among both the human and companion animal populations. It is of great importance to conduct cross disciplinary research when an area of study is in its infancy, as is the case with VRFF. Funding SourcesThe project was funded through a foundation grant from Bridges to a Cure.

Enhancing the decision-making process when considering artificial nutrition in advanced dementia care.

Nutritional problems often manifest during late-stage dementia, and some families may request to instigate artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) therapies. In the US, an estimated one-third of nursing home patients with a severe cognitive impairment have artificial feeding tubes inserted. Fear that a relative could experience extreme hunger or thirst if they are not mechanically fed tends to be the main driver behind family's requests to implement artificial or enteral feeding methods. In contrast, artificial hydration is rarely given to older people with dementia in the UK and this practice of non-intervention tends to apply across all healthcare and hospice type environments. This literature review aims to evaluate the evidence to support the use and non-use of ANH. A literature review was undertaken to examine the evidence around ANH for patients with dementia to offer support to families or carers contemplating feeding choices. This paper challenges the implementation of invasive ANH worldwide. It highlights how resorting to ANH does not necessarily lead to improvements in comfort, survival or wound healing. The risk of aspiration does not appear to significantly alter either.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs of Physicians and Other Health Care Providers Regarding Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life.

Objective: Despite the growing evidence against artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) use among patients with advanced dementia, little is known about the perspectives of the health care team. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of physicians and other health care providers regarding the use of ANH at the end of life (EOL). Methods: A cross-sectional survey explored the provision of EOL care using a hypothetical case scenario of a patient with advanced dementia and dysphagia. Questionnaire items were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric approaches. Results: In this sample of 323 respondents, statistical significance was found between physicians and other health care providers' views on ANH and its related beneficial effects or health outcomes in EOL care. Discussion: Results indicate knowledge deficits in physicians and other health care professionals and highlight the need for comprehensive continuing education programs on EOL topics. Conclusion: Differences in knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding ANH in EOL among healthcare providers were observed and education regarding evidence based clinical guidelines are necessary.

Nutrition at the End of Life: It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It

The purpose of this review is to describe and appraise the available scientific evidence to guide the use of artificial nutrition and hydration at the end of life, with a focus on communicating with patients and families who are facing these decisions. Research suggests artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) may be burdensome at the end of life, yet disparities for its use in clinical practice persist. While no clear evidence supports the use of ANH for the majority of terminally ill patients, emerging data suggests that a subset of patients may derive some benefit. No clear criteria exist to ascertain the beginning of the dying phase, which can present challenges surrounding ANH. A better understanding of symptom burden and thoughtful communication between the clinician and patient can facilitate development of a medical plan of care, with or without ANH, that best meets the patient’s goals of care.

SURVEYING ELDERLY PATIENTS’ WISHES ABOUT ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION DURING END-OF-LIFE CARE IN JAPAN

Because ambiguity is one of the prominent features of Japanese culture, it is crucial to understand how many Japanese elderly persons have strong wishes related to end-of-life care. Ninety-nine consecutive inpatients aged 75 years or older were enrolled in the first survey from 2012 to 2014, after excluding patients with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 20 or less. The first survey was performed by interviewing them about their wishes related to artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) during end-of-life care. For the 35 patients who had attended the first survey, we performed the second survey from 2015 to 2016 by handing them the questionnaire comprised of the same items as the first survey. 50.0% of the participants were against ANH at the end stage of their lives on the first survey. In contrast, only 5.3% wished to receive ANH. The answers of the other patients were inconsistent or included “I don’t know”. Aging and MMSE scores of less than 24 were significantly associated with a higher tendency to decline from participating in the interview. However, the distribution of the interview answers was not associated with age or MMSE scores. Interestingly, 87.5% of the patients who had been against ANH on the first survey selected the same answers on the second survey, while only 20.0% of the other patients selected the same answers as the first survey. In conclusion, many patients did not have definite wishes in Japan. However, most of the wishes against ANH did not change with age.

A matter of life and death

Cases concerning the withdrawal or withholding of artificial nutrition and hydration from patients in a vegetative or minimally conscious state raise difficult medical, legal and ethical questions including the diagnosis...