A Survey on the Nutrition and Water Management of Patients with Home Enteral Nutrition and the Burden of Those Who Administer Enteral Formula (Interviews via Care Managers and Visiting Nurses)

Abstract

In Japan, there have been no reports comparing the physical and psychological burdens associated with liquid and semi-solid enteral nutrition administered at home. Through care managers or home-visiting nurses, a survey interview was administered to caregivers (96 in the liquid group and 93 in the semi-solid group) of patients receiving home enteral nutrition regarding their nutritional and water management. In addition, we investigated the physical and psychological burdens felt by those responsible for administering enteral formulas. The results demonstrated that daily caloric intake was 1,000 kcal/day in both groups, the administration time was significantly shorter in the semi-solid group, some of the patients in both groups did not receive additional water administration, and the semi-solid group took significantly more medications than the liquid group. While there was no significant difference in the level of burden associated with administering enteral nutrition, the reasons for this were different: in the semi-solid group, the preparation of medication and administration of the bolus injection was burdensome, while longer administration time in the liquid group was felt to be a significant burden. To alleviate these burdens, it is important to consider collaboration and intervention by a multidisciplinary team.