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Pediatric Tube Weaning: A Meta-Analysis of Factors Contributing to Success
Haley J Killian1,2, Dana M Bakula3,4,5, Anna Wallisch6
1Department of Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5030 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO, USA. hjkillian@cmh.edu.
Insights
Most children requiring tube feeding can be successfully weaned with current interventions, with 67-69% achieving full oral intake. Further research is needed to optimize tube weaning strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Behavioral Psychology
Background:
- Severe feeding issues affect 3-10% of children, often necessitating enteral/tube nutrition for growth.
- Tube feeding is frequently a temporary measure, highlighting the need for effective tube weaning interventions.
Approach:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized data from 42 studies (cohort and single-subject designs).
- Evaluated moderators of treatment success: setting, behavioral approaches, hunger provocation, and multidisciplinary care.
Key Points:
- Following interventions, children consumed significantly more kilocalories orally.
- An overall success rate of 67-69% was observed for complete tube weaning.
Conclusions:
- Current tube weaning interventions demonstrate general effectiveness.
- Significant variability exists within treatment approaches.
- Prospective randomized clinical trials are required to identify key effective components of weaning interventions.
Abstract:
Approximately 3-10% of children have severe feeding issues, and some require enteral/tube nutrition to grow and thrive. For many children, tube feeding is temporary, making efficacious interventions for tube weaning essential. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of tube weaning treatments. Outcomes included percentage of participants completely weaned from the tube, and mean percentage of kilocalories consumed orally following treatment. Data were extracted from 42 studies, including cohort studies and single-subject research design studies. We evaluated moderators of treatment success, including treatment setting, use of behavioral approaches, use of hunger provocation, and use of a multidisciplinary approach. Results indicated that, after treatment, children received significantly more calories orally, and 67-69% of children were fully weaned. These analyses suggest that current interventions are generally effective; however, variability within treatments exist. Prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to understand effective components of weaning interventions.
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