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Current Literature: Quality of Life and Home Enteral Tube Feeding: A French Prospective Study in Patients with Head and Neck or Esophageal Cancer
Author(s) -
Roberge C,
Tran M,
Massoud C
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1177/088453360101600112
Subject(s) - medicine , enteral administration , psychosocial , quality of life (healthcare) , constipation , feeding tube , prospective cohort study , head and neck cancer , parenteral nutrition , distress , cancer , surgery , nursing , psychiatry , clinical psychology
A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the impact of home enteral tube feeding on quality of life in 39 consecutive patients treated for head and neck or esophageal cancer at the Center Francois Baclesse in Caen, France. Patients were taken as their own controls. Quality of life was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ‐C30 core questionnaire, and the EORTC H&N35 and OES24 specific questionnaires. The feeding technique tolerance was evaluated using a questionnaire specifically developed for this study. Two evaluations were made, the first a week after hospital discharge (n = 39) and the second 3 weeks later (n = 30). Overall, the global health status/quality of life scale score slightly improved; among symptoms, scale scores that significantly improved (p < .05) concerned constipation, coughing, social functioning, and body image/sexuality. The physical feeding technique tolerance was acceptable while the technique was psychologically less tolerated with two‐thirds of the patients longing to have the tube removed. One‐third of the patients were also uncomfortable about their body image. Home enteral tube feeding was responsible for not visiting family or close relations in 15% of patients and not going out in public in 23%. We conclude that home enteral tube feeding is a physically well‐accepted technique although a substantial proportion of patients may experience psychosocial distress. (Brit J Cancer 82:263–9, 2000)