Home enteral feeding audit 1 year post-initiation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Home Healthcare
• Family Support Services

Background:

• Home enteral tube feeding (HETF) is a critical intervention for children with complex medical needs.
• Transitioning from hospital to home care presents unique challenges for families managing HETF.
• Understanding these challenges is vital for developing effective support strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the practical problems encountered by families of children on HETF within the first year post-hospital discharge.
• To evaluate issues related to feed and equipment delivery, pump functionality, tube maintenance, and overnight feeding practices.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 30 parents/carers of children (aged 0-16 years) on HETF.
• Interviews were conducted 12 months after hospital discharge.
• A questionnaire assessed issues including home delivery, pump usage, tube changes, and overnight feeding.

Main Results:

• Significant problems reported include sleep disturbance (75%), frequent tube dislodgement (46%), and tube blockages (41%).
• Challenges with home delivery companies (HDCs) providing specialized pediatric feeds (43%) and pump inaccuracy (23%) were also noted.
• Overnight feeding, pump accuracy, and feed/equipment procurement caused considerable stress for families.

Conclusions:

• Children on long-term HETF and their families experience substantial difficulties, particularly with sleep, tube integrity, and logistics.
• There is an urgent need for dietitians and community nurses to collaborate on solutions for overnight feeding challenges.
• Regular home reviews are essential for ongoing identification and mitigation of problems associated with long-term HETF.