title: Feeding: what it means to patients and caregivers and how these views influence Singaporean Chinese caregivers' decisions to continue feeding at the end of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The decision-making process underlying caregivers' choice to continue feeding at the end of life is not well understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a better understanding of the complex interplay of factors that influence the decision by caregivers to continue feeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Palliative care patients and their main caregiver recruited at National Cancer Centre Singapore between May and July 2011 were included. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred respondents were included. Three major prevailing themes were identified: filial piety, source of hope, and expression of affection. Nonparametric statistical testing showed that patients and caregivers shared similar views about feeding at the end of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major themes identified above undergird the caregiver's decision to continue feeding at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Hui Zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Lalit Kumar Radha
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: Victoria Hwei May
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: confucianism; decision making; family; feeding; filial piety; hope; palliative care