1. Healthcare Professionals’ Views on the provision of Gastrostomy and Noninvasive Ventilation to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Author
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Lokesh Wijesekera, Naomi Martin, Ammar Al-Chalabi, Catherine Knights, Laura H. Goldstein, Tamatha Ruffell, Anna Janssen, Rachel Burman, and David Oliver
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Palliative care ,Health professionals ,business.industry ,medicine.medical_treatment ,education ,Psychological intervention ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Gastrostomy ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Quality of life (healthcare) ,030502 gerontology ,England wales ,Family medicine ,Medicine ,Noninvasive ventilation ,Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ,0305 other medical science ,business ,Intensive care medicine ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Gastrostomy and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) are recommended interventions for the management of symptoms associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to quantify the views of a range of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the provision of these interventions in the United Kingdom. A total of 177 HCPs participated in an online survey. Significant differences were found between medical and allied HCPs’ views on: whether HCPs adhere to policy and accept legal constraints when it comes to making gastrostomy available to people with ALS; the impressions that HCPs receive of the way patients and caregivers understand the effects of gastrostomy and NIV on symptoms and quality of life; and the challenges HCPs face when caring for patients who have refused gastrostomy. More widely available guidelines for the provision of gastrostomy and advice on the best way to impart information to patients and caregivers about gastrostomy and NIV appear to be needed.
- Published
- 2013