[Home parenteral nutrition, question mark in pediatrics]

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a necessary but under-used therapy in Spain as compared to other European countries. This problem has been studied at the 1st Discussion Forum of the Spanish Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. One of its recommendations has been "to design studies in order to analyze the problems detected in HPN practice". Our study attempts to assess pediatric professionals knowledge and opinion about this concern, because children are important recipients of this therapy. A multidisciplinary team prepared a questionnaire to be distributed among 136 health professionals (70 physicians and 66 nurses) working in 4 public hospitals (H) and 8 Primary Health Care Centers (PHC) from Asturias and Salamanca (Spain). Answers show that few professionals have appropriated theoretical and practical knowledge about HPN. Most of them have received neither academic training education nor information over the last year on this matter. The ability to solve patient and caregiver doubts in daily management (handling, storage, compatibility and nutrition stability, parenteral infusion equipment problems, etc) is only 10% in PHC and 50% in H. Only 6 physicians (4.4%) from H group know about the existence of NADYA expert group despite its website and handbooks providing a wide information about HPN. The advantage of HPN to improve life quality, its economic efficacy and the need of cooperation to this respect between H and PHC are matters with a high level of agreement. An important number of pediatric professionals does not have enough knowledge about HPN in PHC. The awareness of HPN must be promoted among clinical services dealing with patients able to benefit from this therapy. All available resources must be used to improved this issue. Specific protocols developed by multidisciplinary teams would promote H and PHC collaboration to help patients, who are the aim of our activity.