Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Nutrition and hydration in the dying cancer patient |
|---|---|
| Name | Francabandiera Anna |
| Supervisor(s) | Minozzi Cinzia, Cananiello Corrado |
| Academic Year | 2019/20 |
| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
Abstract
The subject of the present elaborated is the condition of the oncological patient at the end of his life and the multiple discomforts that this type of patient is forced to live, "struggling" against the need to nourish and to hydrate. In fact, as the disease progresses, the patient struggles more and more to drink and eat: so we resort to other strategies such as the enteral and parenteral pathways. This is because, in our culture, nourishment and hydration are seen as necessary to live: without these we face death. However, this figure is no longer valid at a stage of illness so advanced that it is incurable; on the contrary, it could even worsen the situation and alter the quality of life, the primary objective of palliative care. To ensure that the patient’s wishes are respected, including in terms of nutrition and hydration, laws have been enacted on topics such as informed consent, anticipated treatment arrangements and shared care planning. A bibliographic research and a review of the literature were carried out to carry out this compilation. In particular, books, sites, articles, international guideline and slides developed by experts in palliative care and in nutrition and hydration have been consulted.