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Parental issues in feeding young children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Insights
Parents of children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) identified feeding issues focusing on child behavior and nutritional intake. Collaborative problem-solving between nurses and parents is crucial for addressing these feeding challenges.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Child Nutrition
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) presents significant feeding challenges for affected children.
- Parental decision-making regarding feeding is complex and influenced by various factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify feeding issues experienced by parents of children with BPD.
- To explore the criteria parents use for initiating, continuing, or terminating feeding.
- To understand parental concerns related to feeding behaviors and nutritional intake.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving 11 families of children with BPD.
- Videotaped oral feeding sessions were used to facilitate parent interviews.
- Analysis of parental decision-making criteria during feeding.
Main Results:
- Six types of feeding issues were identified by parents.
- Child's feeding behavior (smoothness/amenability) was a primary concern.
- Concerns included dietary intake adequacy, nutritional status, and child's acceptance of food.
- Parents focused on somatic growth rather than developmental milestones.
Conclusions:
- Parental concerns about feeding behaviors necessitate joint problem-solving with healthcare professionals.
- Further research is needed to explore decision criteria based on child behavior versus predetermined intake goals.
- Such criteria may improve feeding outcomes, reducing vomiting and resistance while increasing intake.
Abstract:
This study examined the feeding issues that parents of 11 children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) identified and explored the informational bases or criteria for decisions to initiate, continue, and/or terminate the feeding. An oral feeding by the parents was videotaped and replayed to assist in interviewing the parents regarding the decisions they had made during the feeding. Six types of feeding issues were identified. The smoothness or amenability of the child's feeding behavior was most frequently expressed as important, and about half of the parents mentioned the child's dietary intake as an issue. Most parents consistently tried to maintain the child's eating and to achieve a predetermined amount of nutritional intake. Over half the parents were concerned about adequacy of the child's nutrition, and many were concerned about their child's acceptance of or resistance to food. Parents did not express concern about their child's development but were concerned about their child's somatic growth. Parents' concern about feeding behaviors requires joint problem-solving by nurses and parents. Whether use of decision criteria that refer to the child's behavior rather than a predetermined amount of food is possible for parents and likely to contribute to reduced vomiting and resistive behavior and increased dietary intake needs further study.