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Reemergence of Blended Tube Feeding and Parent's Reported Experiences in Their Tube Fed Children
Teresa W Johnson1, Amy L Spurlock1, Lisa Epp2
11 College of Health and Human Services, Troy University , Troy, AL.
Insights
Parents using blenderized tube feeding (BTF) for their children reported fewer intolerance symptoms and better growth compared to commercial formula (CF). However, many lack healthcare provider guidance for preparing BTF.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Dietetics
Background:
- Blenderized tube feeding (BTF) is gaining interest among healthcare providers and families as an alternative to commercial formula (CF) for tube-fed children.
- Parental experiences and outcomes associated with BTF compared to CF feeding are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore parents' reported experiences with both commercial formula (CF) and blenderized tube feeding (BTF) in their tube-fed children.
- To compare outcomes and challenges associated with BTF versus CF feeding from the parental perspective.
Main Methods:
- A prospective descriptive study was conducted using a convenience sample.
- An electronic survey was completed by 433 parents of tube-fed children from an online support group to compare experiences of CF and BTF.
Main Results:
- Parents using BTF reported fewer symptoms of tube feeding intolerance and their children more frequently met growth goals compared to those using CF.
- Key reasons for choosing BTF included providing whole foods, decreasing intolerance symptoms, and offering family meals.
- Only half of BTF-using parents sought guidance from healthcare providers, with lack of knowledge and time constraints being barriers to BTF use.
Conclusions:
- A substantial number of parents successfully use BTF, but guidance from healthcare providers is inconsistent.
- There is significant variability in BTF preparation and delivery methods.
- Healthcare providers and facilities need to be prepared to support and guide families interested in or using BTF due to unique nutritional considerations.
Objective:
Healthcare providers (HCPs) report increased interest in blenderized tube feeding (BTF) as an alternative to commercial formula (CF) feeding-particularly in families of tube fed children. The objective of this study was to explore parents' reported experiences of CF and BTF in their children.
Design:
Prospective descriptive study utilizing a convenience sample.
Setting/Subjects:
Parents (n = 433) of tube fed children in an online tube feeding support group completed an electronic survey to compare experiences of CF and BTF in their tube fed children.
Results:
The sample was evenly represented by parents using CF (50.5%) and BTF (49.5%). Reasons parents chose BTF included desire to provide whole foods (20.2%), decrease symptoms of tube feeding intolerance (19.7%), provide family meals (12.2%), increase oral intake (10.8%), address allergies (5.3%), or because they did not like formula (19.7%). Parents reported fewer symptoms of tube feeding intolerance on BTF and their children more frequently met growth goals compared to formula feeding. Only half (49.3%) of parents using BTF referred to HCPs for recipes and feeding oversight. The primary reasons parents did not use BTF included lack of knowledge (50.9%) or time constraints (20.0%).
Conclusions:
A significant number of parents in this sample successfully provide full or partial BTF to their children but only half rely on HCPs for guidance. There is wide variability in BTF preparation and delivery. Parents who use or have interest in BTF need knowledgeable and supportive HCPs for guidance and follow-up due to the unique nutritional needs of this patient population. HCPs need to be prepared to screen families of tube fed children who are using BTF or are interested in this feeding alternative to CF. Healthcare facilities need to evaluate their enteral feeding policies to accommodate patients on BTF.
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