Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34120181›Full record

ArticleAge and ageing2021

How do people living with dementia perceive eating and drinking difficulties? A qualitative study.

Kanthee Anantapong, Yolanda Barrado-Martín, Pushpa Nair, Greta Rait, Christina H Smith, Kirsten J Moore, Jill Manthorpe, Elizabeth L Sampson, Nathan Davies

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Age and ageing, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Co-design development of a decision guide on eating and drinking for people with severe dementia during acute hospital admissions.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2023
    Pooled it
  3. Enteral tube feeding for people with severe dementia.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
    Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. Acceptability of Using a Decision Aid to Support Family Carers of People With Dementia Towards the End of Life: A Qualitative Study.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2024
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kanthee AnantapongMarie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Yolanda Barrado-MartínCentre for Ageing Population Studies, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Pushpa NairCentre for Ageing Population Studies, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Greta RaitCentre for Ageing Population Studies, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK.
Christina H SmithLanguage and Cognition, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
Kirsten J MooreMarie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Jill ManthorpeNIHR Policy Research Unit in Health & Social Care Workforce and NIHR Applied Research Collaborative (ARC) South London, King's College London, London, UK.
Elizabeth L SampsonMarie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Nathan DaviesMarie Curie Palliative Care Research Department, Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.

Funding

Marie Curie MCCC-FCO-11-UMarie Curie MCRGS-20171219-8004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEating and drinking problems are common among people living with later-stage dementia, yet few studies have explored their perspectives.

objectiveThis study aimed to explore how people living with mild dementia understand possible future eating and drinking problems and their perspectives on assistance.

designQualitative study using semi-structured interviews.

settingCommunity.

methodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 people living with mild dementia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.

resultsFive themes were identified: (i) awareness of eating and drinking problems; (ii) food and drink representing an individual's identity and agency; (iii) delegating later decisions about eating and drinking to family carers; (iv) acceptability of eating and drinking options; and (v) eating and drinking towards the end of life. For people living with mild dementia, possible later eating and drinking problems could feel irrelevant and action may be postponed until they occur. Fears of being a burden to family and of being treated like a child may explain reluctance to discuss such future problems. People living with mild dementia might wish to preserve their agency and maintain good quality of life, rather than be kept alive at later stages by artificial nutrition and hydration.

conclusionFor people with mild dementia, eating and drinking problems may seem unrelated to them and so get left undiscussed. Negative connotations regarding eating and drinking problems may hinder the discussion. The optimal time to discuss possible future problems with eating and drinking with people with mild dementia may need an individual approach.

Indexed as

DementiaQuality of LifeCaregiversHumansNutritional StatusQualitative Researchdementiahydrationnutritionolder peoplepatient-centredqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID34120181
PMCPMC8522686

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.