Biopsychosocial Factors in Children Referred With Failure to Thrive: Modern Characterization for Multidisciplinary...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Nutrition

Background:

• Failure to thrive (FTT) is a complex condition affecting child development.
• Understanding the multifactorial nature of FTT is crucial for effective intervention.
• Biopsychosocial characteristics require comprehensive assessment in FTT cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize biopsychosocial factors in children diagnosed with failure to thrive.
• To investigate four key domains: medical, nutritional, feeding skills, and psychosocial characteristics.
• To enhance understanding of FTT contributing factors for improved clinical management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional chart review of children assessed at a specialized clinic.
• Data collected from 2015 to 2016.
• Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• 138 children (mean age 16.9 months) were included; 53.6% were male.
• Significant prevalence of complex medical conditions (approx. 25%), comorbidities, and developmental delays.
• Feeding issues included delayed oral-motor skills (22.5%) and oral aversion (28.3%); common caregiver strategies involved distractions (47.1%).

Conclusions:

• A multifactorial assessment encompassing medical, nutritional, feeding, and psychosocial domains is essential for FTT.
• Findings underscore the need for a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to FTT management.
• Characterizing these domains aids in better understanding and addressing FTT's complexities.