Cultural perspectives in feeding difficulty in Taiwanese elderly with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate factors related to feeding difficulty that is shown in the interaction between nursing assistants and elderly residents with dementia.


METHODS
Forty-eight residents and 31 nursing assistants were observed during meal times in a congregate dining room of a Taiwanese nursing home specializing in dementia care. Residents' eating behaviors, the dining environment, interactions between the nursing assistant and the residents, and feeding strategies used by nursing assistants were observed. Nutritional data for residents were collected from medical charts. The EdFED Scale #2 and interviews of nursing assistants provided information about feeding difficulty. Interviews also provided data on strategies used to address feeding difficulties.


RESULTS
The most frequent feeding difficulty was refusal to eat (37.5%). The strategies used by nursing assistants were limited. Nursing assistants stated they needed more training to address feeding difficulty in residents with dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research should be focused on the interface between the residents and nursing assistants who must identify various feeding difficulties and select appropriate interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Results might provide information that can be used to develop effective interventions and promote high-quality mealtime care in patients with dementia.
Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chia-Chi
CC
Chang
Beverly L
BL
Roberts
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel / Q000208:ethnology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004645:Empathy; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan