Resources to Support Decision-Making Regarding End-of-Life Nutrition Care in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review.

Resources are needed to aid healthcare providers and families in making end-of-life nutrition care decisions for residents living in long-term care settings. This scoping review aimed to explore what is reported in the literature about resources to support decision-making at the end of life in long-term care. Four databases were searched for research published from 2003 to June 2023. Articles included peer-reviewed human studies published in the English language that reported resources to support decision-making about end-of-life nutrition in long-term care settings. In total, 15 articles were included. Thematic analysis of the articles generated five themes: conversations about care, evidence-based decision-making, a need for multidisciplinary perspectives, honouring residents' goals of care, and cultural considerations for adapting resources. Multidisciplinary care teams supporting residents and their families during the end of life can benefit from resources to support discussion and facilitate decision-making.

A Comparison of the Prevalence Rate of Oral Candida Colonization between Opium Users and Cigarette Smokers in Kerman, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Candidiasis is the most common opportunistic oral infection and smoking is considered as one of its well-known risk factors. However, it remains unknown whether opium users are susceptible to increased oral candida colonization. The aim of the present study is to compare the prevalence rate of oral candida colonization between opium users and cigarette smokers in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: This case-control study included 75 healthy male respondents divided into three groups (25 in each group): cigarette smokers, cigarette and opium users, and non-smokers as control group. The samples were obtained from oral mucosa by scraping the mucosa with a sterile cotton swab then inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and CHROMagar plates and also examined with the light microscope. FINDINGS: Candida was identified in 38.70% of respondents. The most frequently isolated species was Candida albicans (90.66%). The highest prevalence of candida carriage was found in cigarette smokers (52.00%). The difference of candida carriage between the two groups of cigarette smokers and cigarette plus opium users and the control group was statistically significant (P = 0.007 and P = 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION: In the present study, it was revealed that the prevalence of oral candida carriage was significantly higher among cigarette and opium users in comparison to the non-users.