The impact of home enteral tube feeding in everyday life: a qualitative study

Advances in clinical and technical areas, combined with developments in community support services, have enabled people to receive enteral tube feeding at home in the UK. Research has focused on clinical and technical aspects, and people's experiences have largely been explored through the audit of after-care services. The research reported in the present paper consisted of a qualitative study in which a small number of people under going enteral tube feeding at home and their carers were interviewed. The study took place in one area of northern England. The interviews explored aspects of daily life, focusing on decision-making and adaptation, and revealed positive feelings about the process of tube feeding, as well as areas of difficulty and concern. Opportunities to improve practice and services are identified from these accounts.