Health professionals’ perceptions of hydric-nutritional care in patients with life-threatening diseases

Abstract

Introduction: food and hydration are considered basic human care. There are controversies regarding the initiation, maintenance and suspension of nutritional support in palliative care patients.

Objective: to explore the perceptions of health professionals in a public hospital in Buenos Aires about the decision-making process in food and hydration in individuals with life-threatening diseases.

Materials and method: a study was carried out with a qualitative approach and exploratory scope, with a semi-structured interview with 17 health professionals, selected for convenience and possibilities of providing information, who do not participate in the Palliative Care Team and who are in contact with patients with life-threatening diseases, with at least one year of experience in the hospital, from December 2021 to March 2022. Data were collected until all interviews presented saturation in the responses.

Results: the discourses on the establishment of water-nutritional practices were related to the four principles of bioethics: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. All interviewees identified invasive water-nutritional practices. The main barriers to access to palliative care perceived were the lack of interdiscipline, education of professionals and resources.

Conclusion: nutrition and hydration in these patients is controversial for the health team. Therefore, the education of all health personnel on this subject could contribute to the quality of care.