Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Geriatric Patients: Attitudes of Health Care Professionals

This study investigated, by questionnaire, the attitudes of geriatricians, speech therapists, dieticians, and nurses towards feeding by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The final response rate from a total of 199 questionnaires sent to this group was 75%. According to 95 (64%) of the respondents, the decision to use PEG feeding was reached by a multidisciplinary team approach and commonly involved carers as well as the patients. The quality of life was the single most important factor influencing this decision. PEG feeding was felt to be indicated in non-dysphagia-related malnutrition by 98 (66%) and in dementia with rejection of oral feeding by 69 (47%) of the respondents. It was felt by 39 (55%) of the nurses and by 32 (42%) of the other professionals that patients with dementia in long-term care who are established on nasogastric feeding should be converted to PEG feeding. This raises several ethical and resource issues.