CRC DIET NUTR PALLI CARE PDF

Preface

Optimal terminal and palliative care requires consideration of the patient and family unit as well as cultural and religious sensitivities. The patient's well-being in terms of mobility, anxiety, stress, social interaction and pain control needs expert focus and attention. This is particularly relevant as the population ages and life can be prolonged. However, there is an increasing awareness that diet and nutritional support play an integral part in the patient's holistic well-being. Most nutritional textbooks or handbooks will have material aimed at prolonging life or improving the quality of life of an individual and alleviating symptoms with a long-term view of complete rehabilitation. Occasionally, such books are directed toward subgroups such as infants or the old. However, there are no comprehensive books on nutrition in terminal or palliative care that simultaneously cover physical, cultural and ethical aspects, and bridge the intellectual divide in being suitable for novices and experts alike. This book addresses such a deficiency.

The Diet and Nutrition in Palliative Care is divided into six sections:

1. Setting the Scene

2. Cultural Aspects

3. General Aspects

4. Cancer

5. Other Conditions

6. Pharmacological Aspects

Coverage in the Diet and Nutrition in Palliative Care includes the need for a specialized interest that combines palliative care and nutrition; concepts; personal perspective; quality of life in the young and adults; Japanese, Chinese and Indian perspectives; forgoing of tube feeding; artificial nutrition including total parenteral nutrition, gastrointestinal side effects and symptoms; gastrojejunostomy; withholding or withdrawing nutritional support; vitamin deficiency; hydration; dysphagia; appetite; fatigue; taste and smell alterations; nausea; refractory cancer cachexia and cachexia-related suffering; head and neck cancer; the vegetative state; renal failure; end-stage liver disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; motor disease; effects of steroids; appetite stimulants and warfarin.

Unique features of each chapter include relevant sections on

• Applications to other areas of terminal or palliative care
• Practical methods and techniques or guidelines
• Key points or features that highlight important areas within chapters
• Ethical issues
• Summary points

The Diet and Nutrition in Palliative Care is for doctors, nurses and carers and those interested or working in the palliative or end-of-life domain. This will, of course, include nutritionists and dietitians, health workers and practitioners, hospice or palliative centre managers, college and university teachers and lecturers, and undergraduates and graduates. The chapters are written by either national or international experts or specialists in their field. The material is well illustrated with numerous figures and tables.