Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
Published on: August 29, 2025
Feeding behavior problems in children with cystic fibrosis in the UK: prevalence and comparison with healthy controls
Alistair James Aitken Duff1, Susan Pamela Wolfe, Corrine Dickson
1Regional Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Unit (RPCFU), Children's Day Hospital, St. James University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom. a.j.a.duff@leeds.ac.uk
Insights
Parents of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience more feeding behavior problems and inappropriate responses than controls. These issues are more prevalent in older children, requiring ongoing, age-specific interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Child Psychology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Feeding behavior problems are common in cystic fibrosis (CF), impacting nutrient intake.
- Understanding the prevalence and patterns of these issues is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and range of disruptive child behaviors (DCB) and inappropriate parental responses (IPR) during mealtimes in children with CF.
- To compare these behaviors and responses with those observed in healthy children.
Main Methods:
- Parents of 108 children with CF (aged 1-7 years) completed the Behavioural Paediatric Feeding Assessment Scale.
- Data from 69 children with CF (aged 1-12 years) were compared to 69 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Children with CF aged 5-8 years exhibited significantly more DCBs than other age groups.
- Parents of children with CF reported more DCBs and IPRs compared to control groups, particularly in children aged 5-12 years.
Conclusions:
- Children with CF demonstrate a higher incidence of feeding behavior problems and parental responses than healthy peers.
- Interventions for feeding difficulties in CF should be continuous throughout childhood and tailored to developmental stages.
Background:
Feeding behavior problems contribute to inadequate dietary intake for many patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, to establish effective intervention programs, more needs to be known about the occurrence and distribution of these difficulties. The aims of this study were to establish the prevalence and range of disruptive child behaviors (DCB) in patients with CF and the inappropriate parental responses (IPR) during mealtimes and to compare the results with those of healthy children.
Methods:
In study A, parents of 108 patients (aged 1-7 years) completed a Behavioural Paediatric Feeding Assessment Scale comprising two domains: DCBs and IPRs during mealtimes. Parents rated the frequency of the behaviors and responses and identified those they considered problematic. In study B, data from the CF group (n = 69, aged 1-12 years) were compared with 69 age- and sex-matched control subjects.
Results:
Parents of children with CF aged 5 to 8 years recorded significantly more DCBs than those in all other age ranges. These parents also reported significantly more IPRs than did parents of children aged 9 to 12 years and 13 to 17 years. Parents of children with CF reported significantly more DCBs and IPRs than did those of the control subjects. There were significantly more problematic DCBs and IPRs in the CF group than in the control group for children aged 5 to 8 years and 9 to 12 years but not for those aged 1 to 4 years.
Conclusions:
Parents of children with CF report more feeding behavior problems than do those of healthy control subjects. The high prevalence of feeding behavior problems in older children suggests that preventative and reactive interventions must continue throughout childhood and vary according to the child's developmental abilities.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Cystic Fibrosis: Management
Sinus disease and chronic sinusitis...
01:23Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation, but...