Physicians' expectations of benefit from tube feeding.
OBJECTIVE
Tube feeding is increasingly common, despite evidence for limited medical benefits. We interviewed treating physicians to describe their expectation of benefit for patients receiving a new feeding tube, and to determine whether expected benefits vary by patient characteristics.


METHODS
We recruited treating physicians and surrogate decision-makers for 288 hospitalized patients in a prospective study of new feeding tube decisions. In structured interviews, physicians provided information on patients' diagnosis and whether they expected any of eight potential medical benefits for a specific patient; surrogates provided information about the patients' function, race, age, prior residence, and ability to eat by mouth.


RESULTS
We completed interviews with 173 physicians about tube feeding for 280 patients (response rate, 97%). Patients commonly had acute stroke (30%), neurodegenerative disease (16%), or head and neck cancer (22%); 70% were somewhat or severely malnourished. In half or more cases, physicians expected benefits of improved nutrition (93%), hydration (60%), prolonged life (58%), ease providing medication (55%), and less aspiration risk (49%). Physicians endorsed more expected benefits for patients with stroke or those completely unable to eat by mouth (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Treating physicians expected multiple medical benefits for a diverse population of patients receiving feeding tubes. Physicians may be unaware of evidence, or expect more optimistic outcomes for their specific patient population. Further education and decision support may improve evidence-based decision-making about feeding tubes.
Hanson
Laura C
LC
Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7550, USA. lhanson@med.unc.edu
Garrett
Joanne M
JM
Lewis
Carmen
C
Phifer
Nancy
N
Jackman
Anne
A
Carey
Timothy S
TS
D003657:Decision Making; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D020521:Stroke / Q000178:diet therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome