Beyond nutrition: the district nurse's role in addressing loneliness in enteral tube feeding

Vollständiger Abstract

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Enteral tube feeding provides nutritional stability for individuals unable to meet requirements orally. However, the psychosocial consequences of enteral tube feeding, particularly loneliness arising from disrupted social eating practices, remain under-recognised in community care. Eating is a socially and culturally embedded activity linked to identity, belonging and relational connection. For individuals receiving long-term enteral tube feeding, altered participation in shared mealtimes and social rituals may increase vulnerability to isolation despite physiological stability. This article critically appraises district nursing interventions in enteral tube feeding management and examines the leadership role of the district nurse in addressing loneliness as a determinant of health. A review of contemporary literature highlights a predominance of biomedical focus during routine visits and identifies limited structured assessment of psychosocial wellbeing. The integration of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale is proposed as a pragmatic service innovation to strengthen holistic review processes and facilitate psychosocial assessment in enteral tube feeding management. It represents a district nurse-led opportunity to align nutritional care with broader wellbeing, reinforcing holistic, person-centred community practice.