Table 2.
Health and Health Care Service Utilization Among Feeding Tube Users and Nonusers.a
| Variables | Feeding Tube Usage | All, N = 117 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feeding Tube Nonusers, N = 87 | Feeding Tube Users, N = 30 | ||
| Comorbidity | |||
| Number of diseases | 4.4 ± 2.2 | 4.4 ± 3.3 | 4.4 ± 2.2 |
| Pressure ulcers | 34.2 | 37.9 | 35.2 |
| Diarrhea | 32.5 | 24.1 | 30.0 |
| Took medication to relax | 60.5 | 50.0 | 57.7 |
| Had restraintsb | 9.9 | 34.5 | 16.4 |
| Problem swallowingb | 58.0 | 89.7 | 66.4 |
| Took food supplementsb | 56.8 | 76.7 | 62.2 |
| Weight problems | 50.6 | 48.3 | 50.0 |
| Falls | 53.8 | 43.3 | 50.9 |
| Was in the home care program | 79.7 | 75.9 | 76.8 |
| Went to the emergency room in the previous year | |||
| Went to the ER at night | 22.7 | 48.1 | 29.4 |
| Went to the ER during the dayb | 34.2 | 40.0 | 35.8 |
| Number of times during the nightb | 1.6 ± 0.9 | 2.9 ± 1.7 | 2.0 ± 1.3 |
| Number of times during the dayb | 1.4 ± 0.5 | 3.0 ± 1.6 | 2.2 ± 1.4 |
| Had a legal guardianb | 32.9 | 55.2 | 38.2 |
| Had a power of attorney | 21.5 | 24.1 | 21.8 |
| Place of death, N =52 | |||
| House | 32.1 | 10.0 | 44.0 |
| Nursing home/hospital | 67.9 | 90.0 | 66.0 |
Abbreviation: ER, emergency room.
aAll values are % unless otherwise stated.
b P < .05.