Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Implications of Non-Nutritive Sucking on Speech Emergence and Infant Development
Published on: April 19, 2024
A Core Outcome Set for Children With Feeding Tubes and Neurologic Impairment: A Systematic Review
Mufiza Z Kapadia1, Kariym C Joachim2, Chrinna Balasingham2
1Toronto Outcomes Research in Child Health (TORCH), Child Health Evaluative Sciences, mufiza.farid@gmail.com.
Insights
This study synthesized outcomes for neurologically impaired children with feeding tubes, finding 120 unique outcomes but limited data on life impact and resource use. A core outcome set (COS) is needed to standardize reporting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health Outcomes
- Neurology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Feeding tubes are common for neurologically impaired children, but their impact on outcomes is unclear.
- Standardized outcome reporting is lacking, hindering evidence synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize qualitative data on all outcomes reported for neurologically impaired children (0-18 years) with gastrostomy/gastrojejunostomy tubes.
- To identify the heterogeneity in outcome selection, definition, and measurement.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Register databases (inception to March 2014).
- Extraction of health outcomes from articles on neurologically impaired children with feeding tubes.
- Categorization of outcomes using modified Outcome Measures in Rheumatology 2.0 Filter criteria.
Main Results:
- 120 unique outcomes were identified, showing significant heterogeneity.
- "Pathophysiological manifestation" outcomes were most frequent (n=83), followed by "growth and development" (n=13).
- Weight, gastroesophageal reflux, and site infection were the most commonly reported outcomes.
Conclusions:
- There is a paucity of data on life impact, resource use, and death outcomes.
- Significant heterogeneity in outcome reporting hinders evidence synthesis.
- Developing a core outcome set (COS) is crucial for standardizing outcome assessment in this population.
Context:
Uncertainty exists about the impacts of feeding tubes on neurologically impaired children. Core outcome sets (COS) standardize outcome selection, definition, measurement, and reporting.
Objective:
To synthesize an evidence base of qualitative data on all outcomes selected and/or reported for neurologically impaired children 0 to 18 years living with gastrostomy/gastrojejunostomy tubes.
Data Sources:
Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Register databases searched from inception to March 2014.
Study Selection:
Articles examining health outcomes of neurologically impaired children living with feeding tubes.
Data Extraction:
Outcomes were extracted and assigned to modified Outcome Measures in Rheumatology 2.0 Filter core areas; death, life impact, resource use, pathophysiological manifestations, growth and development.
Results:
We identified 120 unique outcomes with substantial heterogeneity in definition, measurement, and frequency of selection and/or reporting: "pathophysiological manifestation" outcomes (n = 83) in 79% of articles; "growth and development" outcomes (n = 13) in 55% of articles; "death" outcomes (n = 3) and "life impact" outcomes (n = 17) in 39% and 37% of articles, respectively; "resource use" outcomes (n = 4) in 14%. Weight (50%), gastroesophageal reflux (35%), and site infection (25%) were the most frequently reported outcomes.
Limitations:
We were unable to investigate effect size of outcomes because quantitative data were not collected.
Conclusions:
The paucity of outcomes assessed for life impact, resource use and death hinders meaningful evidence synthesis. A COS could help overcome the current wide heterogeneity in selection and definition. These results will form the basis of a consensus process to produce a final COS.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
01:26Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
01:19Restorative Care
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children