Population Based Care Related

Review Population Based Care related questions and content

A highly suspicious patient who has delusions of persecution about being poisoned has refused all hospital meals for 3 days. Which of the following interventions would be most appropriate under these circumstances?

  • A. Feed the patient via tube, involuntarily via court order if needed.
  • B. Offer to taste each food item on the tray yourself while he watches.
  • C. Allow the patient to contact a local restaurant to deliver his meals.
  • D. Allow him supervised access to use food vending machines in the hospital lobby.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Step 1: In this scenario, the patient is refusing hospital meals due to delusions of being poisoned, indicating a lack of trust.
Step 2: By allowing supervised access to food vending machines in the hospital lobby, the patient can choose his own food, promoting autonomy and trust-building.
Step 3: This intervention respects the patient's autonomy while ensuring access to food.
Step 4: In contrast, feeding via tube involuntarily (Option A) violates autonomy, tasting food yourself (Option B) doesn't address the issue of trust, and ordering from a restaurant (Option C) may not be feasible or safe in a hospital setting.
Summary: Option D is the most appropriate as it balances patient autonomy and safety, addressing the refusal of hospital meals effectively.