Withdrawal of Artificial Nutrition: Influence of Prior Experience on the Perception of Caregivers

Context: In spite of the existence of clinical guidelines and a legal framework in France, the withdrawal of artificial nutrition (AN) in palliative care remains a difficult situation for caregivers who are confronted with this reality. Objectives: To describe the perception of caregivers on the withdrawal of AN and to compare this perception between caregivers who have already been confronted with this situation and those who have not. Methods: Cross-sectional survey questionnaire of nurses and nurses' aides (n = 274) working in medicine, surgery, and palliative care departments of a regional hospital. Results: Of the caregivers, 59.5% declared having been confronted with the withdrawal of AN in their professional practice. This was associated with a better perception by these caregivers even if their knowledge on the criteria to be considered in the decision was not significantly modified. Conclusion: The coherence of the withdrawal of AN with the personal beliefs of the caregivers, already high in the absence of being confronted with this practice, is better among caregivers who have been confronted with this situation. The lack of information perceived by caregivers should prompt us to develop additional training on the withdrawal of AN, its objectives, and its clinical consequences.