TY - JOUR
T1 - Decision-making and outcomes of feeding tube insertion
T2 - A five-state study
AU - Teno, Joan M.
AU - Mitchell, Susan L.
AU - Kuo, Sylvia K.
AU - Gozalo, Pedro L.
AU - Rhodes, Ramona L.
AU - Lima, Julie C.
AU - Mor, Vincent
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Objectives: To examine family member's perceptions of decision-making and outcomes of feeding tubes. Design: Mortality follow-back survey. Sample weights were used to account for oversampling and survey design. A multivariate model examined the association between feeding tube use and overall quality of care rating regarding the last week of life. Setting: Nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. Participants: Respondents whose relative had died from dementia in five states with varying feeding tube use. Measurements: Respondents were asked about discussions, decision-making, and outcomes related to their loved ones' feeding problems. Results: Of 486 family members surveyed, representing 9,652 relatives dying from dementia, 10.8% reported that the decedent had a feeding tube, 17.6% made a decision not to use a feeding tube, and 71.6% reported that there was no decision about feeding tubes. Of respondents for decedents with a feeding tube, 13.7% stated that there was no discussion about feeding tube insertion, and 41.6% reported a discussion that was shorter than 15 minutes. The risks associated with feeding tube insertion were not discussed in one-third of the cases, 51.8% felt that the healthcare provider was strongly in favor of feeding tube insertion, and 12.6% felt pressured by the physician to insert a feeding tube. The decedent was often physically (25.9%) or pharmacologically restrained (29.2%). Respondents whose loved ones died with a feeding tube were less likely to report excellent end-of-life care (adjusted odds ratio=0.42, 95% confidence interval=0.18-0.97) than those who were not. Conclusion: Based on the perceptions of bereaved family members, important opportunities exist to improve decision-making in feeding tube insertion.
AB - Objectives: To examine family member's perceptions of decision-making and outcomes of feeding tubes. Design: Mortality follow-back survey. Sample weights were used to account for oversampling and survey design. A multivariate model examined the association between feeding tube use and overall quality of care rating regarding the last week of life. Setting: Nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living facilities. Participants: Respondents whose relative had died from dementia in five states with varying feeding tube use. Measurements: Respondents were asked about discussions, decision-making, and outcomes related to their loved ones' feeding problems. Results: Of 486 family members surveyed, representing 9,652 relatives dying from dementia, 10.8% reported that the decedent had a feeding tube, 17.6% made a decision not to use a feeding tube, and 71.6% reported that there was no decision about feeding tubes. Of respondents for decedents with a feeding tube, 13.7% stated that there was no discussion about feeding tube insertion, and 41.6% reported a discussion that was shorter than 15 minutes. The risks associated with feeding tube insertion were not discussed in one-third of the cases, 51.8% felt that the healthcare provider was strongly in favor of feeding tube insertion, and 12.6% felt pressured by the physician to insert a feeding tube. The decedent was often physically (25.9%) or pharmacologically restrained (29.2%). Respondents whose loved ones died with a feeding tube were less likely to report excellent end-of-life care (adjusted odds ratio=0.42, 95% confidence interval=0.18-0.97) than those who were not. Conclusion: Based on the perceptions of bereaved family members, important opportunities exist to improve decision-making in feeding tube insertion.
KW - decision-making
KW - dementia
KW - feeding tube insertion
KW - outcomes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79956024915&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79956024915&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03385.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03385.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21539524
AN - SCOPUS:79956024915
SN - 0002-8614
VL - 59
SP - 881
EP - 886
JO - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
JF - Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
IS - 5
ER -