Inchiesta conoscitiva sulla gestione della nutrizione parenterale ed enterale a domicilio

Aim of the study: national survey of home artificial nutrition (HAN) concerning the kind ofservice: public, private and others. Materials and methods: we sent a questionnaire to the italian health units asking the availability of HAN service. A second questionnaire was sent to private societies asking the kind and the cost of HAN service. Results: 74 out 284 health units coming from 14 italian regions filled the questionaire. Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) was performed in 58 health units, directly in 70%, by a private society in 19% or by other health units in 9%, and in others ways in 1%. Home enteral nutrition (HEN) was performed in 67 health units, directly in 78%, by a private society in 12% or by other health units in 7%, and in other ways in 3%. Two private societies performed HPN at the cost of 100.-300,000 lire/day while 5 private societies performed HEN at the cost of 8.-60,000 lire/day. Conclusions: this study reports the different organizzations of HAN among italian health units, and characteristics ofprivate HAN service.