Research Article

in

Tube Feeding in Advanced Dementia: An Exploratory Survey of Physician Knowledge

The content of this article is only available as a PDF.

Have access already?

Get access to this article:

Or get access to the particular issue:

Advertisement

Abstract

The administration of artificial nutrition by means of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in older persons in the advanced stages of dementia is commonplace, yet the treatment is associated with significant treatment burdens and unclear benefits in this population. In addition, there is wide and unexplained geographic variability in the use of PEG in advanced dementia, which may stem partly from physicians’ lack of understanding about its indications, risks, benefits, and effect on quality of life in advanced dementia. This study was a mail survey undertaken to assess physician knowledge regarding tube feeding in advanced dementia and explore whether certification in geriatrics or other physician characteristics are associated with physician knowledge. To assess knowledge about tube feeding, we asked participants to rate the importance of commonly cited, but non–evidence based, indications for tube feeding in advanced dementia, including recurrent aspiration pneumonia, abnormal swallowing evaluations, abnormal nutritional parameters, preventing an uncomfortable death, and others. Discrepancies between physician knowledge and current evidence regarding tube feeding in advanced dementia were found, indicating a need for improved education of primary care physicians in order to ultimately provide better end-of-life care for patients with advanced dementia.

Article usage
Article Usage
Period Abstract Full PDF Total
Apr 2024 15 0 0 15
Mar 2024 1 0 0 1
Feb 2024 4 0 0 4
Jan 2024 12 0 0 12
Dec 2023 7 0 0 7
Nov 2023 4 0 0 4
Oct 2023 24 0 0 24
Sep 2023 16 0 0 16
Aug 2023 13 0 0 13
Jul 2023 10 0 0 10
Jun 2023 13 0 0 13
May 2023 8 0 0 8
Apr 2023 5 0 0 5
Mar 2023 18 0 0 18
Feb 2023 9 0 0 9
Jan 2023 29 0 0 29
Dec 2022 16 0 0 16
Nov 2022 6 0 0 6
Oct 2022 5 0 0 5
Sep 2022 16 0 0 16
Aug 2022 13 0 1 14
Jul 2022 19 0 0 19
Jun 2022 28 0 0 28
May 2022 7 0 0 7
Apr 2022 11 0 0 11
Mar 2022 8 0 0 8
Feb 2022 6 0 0 6
Jan 2022 16 0 0 16
Dec 2021 9 0 0 9
Nov 2021 21 0 0 21
Oct 2021 16 0 0 16
Sep 2021 12 0 0 12
Aug 2021 23 0 0 23
Jul 2021 11 0 0 11
Jun 2021 9 0 0 9
May 2021 10 0 0 10
Apr 2021 10 0 0 10
Mar 2021 9 0 0 9
Feb 2021 5 0 0 5
Jan 2021 9 0 0 9
Dec 2020 12 0 0 12
Nov 2020 21 0 0 21
Oct 2020 13 0 0 13
Sep 2020 9 0 0 9
Aug 2020 24 0 0 24
Jul 2020 6 0 0 6
Jun 2020 8 0 0 8
May 2020 25 0 0 25
Apr 2020 23 0 0 23
Mar 2020 4 0 0 4
Feb 2020 8 0 0 8
Jan 2020 13 0 0 13
Dec 2019 21 0 0 21
Nov 2019 18 0 0 18
Oct 2019 6 0 0 6
Sep 2019 6 0 0 6
Aug 2019 11 0 0 11
Jul 2019 4 0 0 4
Jun 2019 6 0 0 6
May 2019 8 0 0 8
Apr 2019 16 0 0 16
Mar 2019 39 0 0 39
Feb 2019 16 0 0 16
Jan 2019 12 0 0 12
Dec 2018 3 0 0 3
Nov 2018 6 0 0 6
Oct 2018 15 0 0 15
Sep 2018 4 0 0 4
Aug 2018 7 0 0 7
Jul 2018 2 0 0 2