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Factors to Consider When your Patient is Not
Eating
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Causes
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Possible Etiology
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Physical
Includes any physical discomforts that may be inhibiting nutritional
ingestion or proper digestion
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- Abdominal ascites/bowel sounds/nausea/pain/cramping/heartburn
- Constipation/fecal impaction
- Difficulty swallowing/chewing
- Alterations in oral mucosa
- Medications that cause nausea, anorexia or vomiting
- Altered physical activity/rest sleep
- Chronic illness
- Surgeries that effect absorption rates
- Pain
- Frequent diagnostic testing or treatments where patients often
miss meals
- Long surgical waiting lists where patients are often NPO for
long periods of time
- Patient inability to consume perceived large qualities of food
or supplements
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Psychological
Includes any psychological aversions, including medications
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- Dementia
- Delirium
- Confusion
- Environmental factors
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Sociocultural
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- Likes and dislikes of food
- Meal-time experience/environment
- Food allergies or intolerances
- Ethnic and cultural values
- Stress
- Lack of communication between nurses, physicians and dietitians
responsible for care
- Insufficient monitoring of nutrient intake and inadequate intake
of supplements that have been prescribed to maintain nutritional
status
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Developmental
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- Chewing, swallowing
- Time
- Access
- Perceived lack of control
- Effects of aging decreased sense of taste
- Alteration in taste or smell
- Neurological
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Spiritual
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- Despair
- Lack of interest in food
- Decreased self-esteem
- Recent loss of spouse
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