Physicians' specialties may impact whether or not they choose to administer a feeding tube to patients with advanced dementia, according to a study in Health Affairs.
Researchers analyzed data from advanced dementia patients hospitalized from 2001 to 2010 with an infection or dehydration.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
They found hospitalists were the least likely to administer a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding tube, at a rate of 1.6 percent, followed by nonhospitalist generalists (2.2 percent) and all subspecialists (11 percent).
Researchers noted that the number of patients seen by a mixture of attending physicians increased from 28.9 percent in 2001 to 38.3 percent in 2010.
Researchers suggest efforts to improve decision making regarding the care of advanced dementia patients should also focus on improving communication and understanding the merits of using feeding tubes with this patient population.
More Articles on Clinical Quality:
Antihypertensive Medication Linked to Increased Patient Fall Injuries
AHA Launches Symposium for Leaders in Healthcare Quality
50 Hospitals With the Lowest Serious Complication Rates