Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Toward Providing Artificial Nutrition and Hydration for Patients With Terminal Cancer

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Pub Date : 2025-05-05 DOI:10.1111/jhn.70060

Beatri Coetzee, Daan G. Nel, Janicke Visser

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Decisions related to artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) provision for patients with terminal cancer are a complex topic that can affect the patients’ quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in South Africa concerning the provision of ANH for patients with terminal cancer.

Methods

This descriptive, cross-sectional study with an analytical component, involved doctors, nurses and dietitians experienced in caring for patients with terminal cancer. Data were collected via an electronic platform (n = 151), utilising a validated questionnaire with close-ended questions. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica Version 14.0, with p < 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results

Notable disparities were observed in HCPs’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to ANH provision. Participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge about palliative care (PC) (92%) but scored lower for ANH provision (56%). Most participants were aware of the burdens associated with ANH provision (mean score: 4.1 ± 0.7 [5-point Likert scale]), yet optimism emerged regarding its perceived psychological benefits. Factors such as patient autonomy (4.5 ± 0.8) and communication between the medical team and patients (4.4 ± 1.0) appeared to influence HCPs’ practices. Furthermore, a notable difference was observed in knowledge scores and attitudes based on certain socio-demographic variables.

Conclusion

This study suggests that HCPs have inadequate knowledge about, and contradictory attitudes toward, ANH provision in patients with terminal cancer. The study highlights the need for targeted education on terminal care, thereby informing efforts to improve the overall quality of care of these patients.

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查看原文本刊更多论文

医疗保健专业人员为晚期癌症患者提供人工营养和补水的知识、态度和做法

晚期癌症患者人工营养和水合作用（ANH）的相关决策是一个复杂的话题，可以影响患者的生活质量（QoL）。本研究旨在调查南非医疗保健专业人员（HCPs）在为晚期癌症患者提供ANH方面的知识、态度和做法。方法本研究是一项描述性、横断面研究，研究对象包括有护理晚期癌症患者经验的医生、护士和营养师。数据通过电子平台收集（n = 151），使用经过验证的封闭式问题问卷。采用Statistica Version 14.0进行统计学分析，p <； 0.05为有统计学意义。结果两组医护人员在提供健康护理的知识、态度和行为上存在显著差异。参与者表现出对姑息治疗（PC）的高水平知识（92%），但对ANH提供的得分较低（56%）。大多数参与者意识到与ANH提供相关的负担（平均得分：4.1±0.7[5点李克特量表]），但对其感知的心理益处持乐观态度。患者自主性（4.5±0.8）和医疗团队与患者之间的沟通（4.4±1.0）等因素似乎影响了HCPs的做法。此外，基于某些社会人口变量，在知识得分和态度上观察到显着差异。结论本研究提示医护人员对晚期癌症患者提供ANH的认识不足，态度矛盾。该研究强调了对临终关怀进行有针对性教育的必要性，从而为提高这些患者的整体护理质量提供了信息。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 医学-营养学

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

15.20%

发文量

133

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing papers in applied nutrition and dietetics. Papers are therefore welcomed on: - Clinical nutrition and the practice of therapeutic dietetics - Clinical and professional guidelines - Public health nutrition and nutritional epidemiology - Dietary surveys and dietary assessment methodology - Health promotion and intervention studies and their effectiveness - Obesity, weight control and body composition - Research on psychological determinants of healthy and unhealthy eating behaviour. Focus can for example be on attitudes, brain correlates of food reward processing, social influences, impulsivity, cognitive control, cognitive processes, dieting, psychological treatments. - Appetite, Food intake and nutritional status - Nutrigenomics and molecular nutrition - The journal does not publish animal research The journal is published in an online-only format. No printed issue of this title will be produced but authors will still be able to order offprints of their own articles.