Finding a Balanced Diet on the World Wide Web

Abstract

End-of-life decisions regarding nutrition should be formed in light of available scientific information and socio-culturally sensitive aspects of patient/family centered care. An extensive internet search was performed to identify available resources concerning nutrition at the end of life and guide health professionals and consumers in the interpretation and clinical application of information. The results of this search yielded several internet sites that post content that can be useful to clinicians, consumers and both. The amount of accessible information on the World Wide Web is so extensive that considerable effort is required to appraise the accuracy and scientific value of subject matter while balancing patients and families perceived importance of nourishment during the end stages of life. Therefore, Internet-based information on nutrition at the end of life is presented and evaluated for the relative contributions that this type of information offers to clinicians, patients and families.