title: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: psychological effects.
abstract: A mainly qualitative study, with some quantitative measurement tools, was undertaken to explore the psychological effects of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding on both patients and carers. A significant level of depression and stress was found in patients whose lifestyle had changed greatly; this was due partly to having to use a PEG and part to the underlying disease. Patients were, at the same time, grateful for the benefits to their nutritional state of having a PEG. A high level of stress was experienced by the relatives of patients whose functional and/or mental abilities had significantly changed for the worse and who had had a PEG tube placed. A need for more initial factual information and for ongoing practical and psychological support for both patients and carers was identified.
authors.affiliation: North Downs Community Health Trust.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rickman
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000523:psychology*; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires