@article{3081172,
    title = "Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: Adequacy and quality of information
given to decision-makers",
    author = "Ladas, SD and Triantafyllou, K and Liappas, I and Hatziargyriou, M and and Tzavellas, E and Barbatzas, C and Christodoulou, G and Raptis, SA",
    journal = "Digestive Diseases",
    year = "2002",
    volume = "20",
    number = "3-4",
    pages = "289-292",
    publisher = "Karger",
    issn = "0257-2753, 1421-9875",
    doi = "10.1159/000067667",
    keywords = "percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; ethics; dysphagia; eating disorder;
decision making; nutritional support",
    abstract = "Background/Aim: Nowadays percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is
widely available, but patient-selection criteria and quality of informed
consent are debated. The aims of this retrospective study were to
evaluate the quality of information given to the decision-makers
(relatives) and determine the overall acceptance of the procedure by the
patients’ family. Methods: The relatives of patients with PEG were
interviewed by telephone, using a structured questionnaire. They (n =
55; 36% spouses, 34% children, 30% other) gave information about
themselves and the patient (34 males, 21 females, median age 69, range
16-92 years) who underwent PEG tube placement for eating disorders or
dysphagia. Results: At the time of evaluation 30/55 (54.6%) patients
had died. The cumulative median survival was significantly longer in
patients younger than 75 years by 58 days (p = 0.009). Relatives
believed that PEG could improve the patients’ quality of life (56%)
or/and the underlying disease. Although 93% of the decision-makers
considered that their opinion had been taken into account when the
procedure was done, 25% said that they had not adequately been informed
about alternative methods and the complications of the procedure (38%).
54% said that the procedure had improved the quality of life of the
family. Most of the decision-makers believed that their decision was
correct (87%) and they would recommend PEG (84%) to other patients
suffering from dysphagia. Conclusion: Though several decision-makers
were not satisfied with the quality of information given before informed
consent, the overall acceptance of the PEG placement for nutritional
support is high. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel."
}