title: Mealtime care on a geriatric- psychiatric ward from the perspective of the caregivers: a qualitative case study design.
abstract: This study aims to obtain insight into the care process surrounding mealtimes within a geriatric-psychiatric ward from the perspective of the caregivers. A qualitative study was carried out in accordance with the case study method. Data was generated by participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. A mealtime turned out to be a much more complex event than it appears to be, looking at it superficially. The caregivers recognize the valuable therapeutic meaning of the mealtime. Nevertheless, they experience internal conflict when it comes to certain significant problem areas in their search for a balance between the functional-organizational approach and the patient-oriented approach.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, Catholic University of Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bryon
authors.forename: Bernadette Dierckx
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: de Casterlé
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gastmans
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steeman
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milisen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012648:Self Care