Nutritional issues in palliative care.

OBJECTIVES

To present current information on nutritional problems and management during the palliative care period.

DATA SOURCES

Research and review articles from three computerized databases, the table of contents of an on-line nursing journal, and pursuit of pertinent references in articles reviewed.

CONCLUSIONS

Controversies continue on the most appropriate management of intake in the palliative care period from both physical and ethical perspectives.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Until the literature is conclusive on the amount and type of suffering incurred by patients who are ceasing intake, nurses will need to stay current with the research literature and approach each case individually in determining appropriate care.