Clinicians' Experiences With Providing Compulsory Nasogastric Tube Feeding: A Commentary on Offringa et al. (2025)

Compulsory nasogastric tube feeding (CNF) is often a traumatic event for patients and caregivers. Its impact on those administering it, however, is understudied. This commentary responds to the recent qualitative study by Offringa et al., which explores the experiences of clinicians involved in CNF. The authors highlight the physical and emotional strain on healthcare providers, and describe that they find themselves in situations in which the administration of CNF pushes their personal and professional moral boundaries. The clinicians' descriptions of their experiences encourage reflection on the challenges of working with those with eating disorders (EDs) and in particular, working with the very ill who require life-saving measures such as CNF. In this commentary, recommendations for mitigating these difficulties are suggested, including: (1) having clear organizational policies and guidelines for when, how, and to whom to administer CNF; (2) education and training of front-line staff on CNF as well as the nature of EDs; (3) support for team members after the administration of CNF; (4) the involvement of a lived experience perspective in all levels of design and delivery; and (5) helping clinicians tolerate the discomfort of CNF by keeping in mind that ultimately they are likely saving their patient's life. The work of Offringa and colleagues should stimulate research on the effects on both patients and clinicians of various forms of restraint (e.g., chemical, mechanical, and physical) to determine which approach is least traumatizing, as well as longitudinal studies on the effects of CNF and its relation to patient outcome.