# BEHAVIORAL CONTEXT OF EATING AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 1993 · $226,944

## Abstract

The nutritional status of the elderly has been studied extensively, but
little is known about the problematic eating behavior of nursing home
residents that may result in dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, and
eventually placement of a feeding tube.  The purpose of this 4 year
anthropological study is to investigate eating problems and the use of
feeding tubes in 2 nursing homes.  The specific aims are to identify,
describe, and analyze: 1) The social, cultural, and environmental factors
(e.g., ethnicity, marital status and dining room conditions) that
influence eating behavior; 2) Resident characteristics such as age and
mental and physical status, that affect eating behavior; 3) The process
of evaluating and managing eating problems (what happens over time to
patients with eating problems; 4) The social-cultural factors that
influence the decision to give or withhold tube feedings (e.g., given
similar conditions, why are some tube-fed while others are not); 5) The
consequences (social and cultural) of tube feedings for patients and
families; 6) Families' and caregivers' (e.g., physicians and nurses)
perception of eating problems and tube feeding; and 7) The process of
enteral feeding (e.g., who gives the feeding, how, when, and where are
they given, and position of patient during and after feeding).

This qualitative research uses three strategies: Participant observation,
in-depth interviews with 75 patients, families, nursing staff, and
physicians (N=200, 1/2 in each of two settings), and event analysis which
will be used to describe prospectively three groups: 1) patients with
eating problems that are resolved, 2) patients with continuing eating
problems who are not tube-fed, and 3) patients with eating problems who
eventually are tube-fed.  In each setting, 50 subjects (N=100) will be
followed for 6 months to obtain a natural history of patients with eating
problems documenting: a) factors that influence eating behavior and the
decision to insert a feeding tube; b) the process of evaluating and
managing eating problems; and c) the consequences of feeding tubes for
patients and their families.

This research will extend the body of knowledge theoretically in the
areas of labeling and decision-making theory and in the applied area of
eating problems and the use of feeding tubes in nursing homes.  Findings
may suggest interventions that will improve the quality of life of
nursing home residents.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3122088
- **Project number:** 1R01AG010131-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KMH5K9V7S518
- **Principal Investigator:** VIRGENE S KAYSER-JONES
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $226,944
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 1993-06-01 → 1997-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3122088

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3122088, BEHAVIORAL CONTEXT OF EATING AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT (1R01AG010131-01A2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3122088. Licensed CC0.

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