Nutrition inom den palliativa vården : upplevelser från patienter och närstående

Sammanfattning: Background: In Sweden many people are in need of palliative care in end of life. The goal with palliative care is to create conditions to improve quality of life when disease can no longer be cured. A natural step in the dying process is that the patients stop eating and this can be difficult to handle for both the patient and their close relatives. Here, the nurse becomes a key to motivate and support. Aim: The aim was to highlight the experience of nutrition in palliative care for patients and close relatives. Method: A literature-based study based on analysis of nine qualitative scientific studies. Results: Themes that emerged in the new result was A desire for extended life, A change in everyday life and Food as a consideration, and associated subthemes. Close relatives often used food as a way of showing love and nursing while patients eat to reduce the anxiety of their close relatives, they ate to please. Conclusion: Common to the result was that both patients and close relatives experienced a reduced quality of life related to nutrition and as a reminder that death was approaching. Food was seen as a central and health promoting part of everyday life and a significant part of the social community.