Awareness, needs, and preferences for managing tube feeding resources from hospital to home: a survey among family caregivers.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Globally, there is an increasing trend in the number of individuals utilizing home enteral nutrition (HEN). In China, HEN is currently at a nascent stage. We aim to investigate the current situation of home enteral tube feeding (HETF) caregivers to provide more convenient services and assistance to them in China.

Methods and study design: We conducted a questionnaire survey among family caregivers of enteral tube feeding patients preparing for hospital discharge to assess their awareness, needs, and preferences for resources.

Results: 108 family caregivers were recruited in the study. 65 caregivers were considered proficient in tube feeding knowledge, while 43 were not, resulting in a non-proficiency rate of 39.8%. Education levels (p <0.001), employment status (p = 0.029), and the patients' age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI) (p = 0.032) were the critical factors affecting the caregivers' tube feeding knowledge. The risk of non-proficiency in tube feeding knowledge was increased for those with lower education levels compared with those with higher education levels (OR=5.08, 95% CI: 1.77-14.52). The family's monthly income and expenditure (p = 0.030) was the sole factor impacting the type of tube feeding service needs.

Conclusions: Providing tube feeding knowledge to HETF patients and their caregivers before dis-charge is essential. Personalized training, especially for caregivers with lower education levels, can improve their understanding. Additionally, implementing online nutrition follow-ups and Nutrition-Nursing Joint Clinics can help address healthcare resource disparities and offer more accessible services to HETF patients in China.