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Virtual nourishment: Paediatric feeding disorder management with telepractice amidst COVID-19: An allied health
Sharon Smart1, Denise Imms2, Margo Brewer1
1Curtin University, Perth, Australia and.
Insights
Telepractice offered continuity for children with paediatric feeding disorders during COVID-19. Clinicians gained insights but preferred in-person therapy, highlighting the need for better telepractice training and guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Clinical practice
- Telehealth
- Paediatric feeding disorders
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid adoption of telepractice for paediatric feeding disorders.
- In-person therapy restrictions highlighted the need for alternative service delivery models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore clinical perspectives on telepractice for paediatric feeding disorders during the pandemic.
- To understand allied health professionals' experiences and reflections on telepractice management.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study employing thematic analysis.
- Recruited 11 allied health professionals (speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, dietetics) in Western Australia.
- Inductive analysis of telepractice sessions with children (0-12 years) with feeding disorders.
Main Results:
- Four themes emerged: families as change catalysts, clinician comfort influencing confidence, insights into authentic mealtimes, and the paradox of choice.
- Clinicians reported positive experiences but often returned to in-person delivery post-restrictions.
- Findings indicate a need for enhanced clinician confidence and competence in telepractice.
Conclusions:
- Telepractice successfully managed paediatric feeding disorders during restrictions.
- Development of service guidelines and training is crucial for effective telepractice.
- Further research and guideline implementation are needed to establish telepractice as a viable option.
Purpose:
The rapid adoption of telepractice services by health professionals was necessary to maintain service continuity for children with paediatric feeding disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic, during periods where in-person therapy was restricted. The aim of this study was to explore clinical perspectives and reflections on the use of telepractice for managing paediatric feeding disorders during the pandemic.
Method:
A post-positivist qualitative approach using thematic analysis was adopted. This study seeks to understand participants' experiences and thoughts from allied health professionals from speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and dietetics working with paediatric feeding in Western Australia. All participants delivered at least 10 telepractice sessions to children from birth to 12 years with a paediatric feeding disorder. Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis process was used to analyse the data inductively.
Result:
Eleven allied health professionals representing eight clinical settings in Western Australia, including speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and dietetics, working with paediatric feeding were recruited. The results revealed four themes: families becoming the catalyst of change, clinician comfort over confidence, insights into authentic mealtimes, and the paradox of choice.
Conclusion:
This study highlighted the need to build clinicians' confidence and competence, and the provision of service guidelines and training. Although many clinicians had positive experiences with telepractice, most returned to in-person delivery once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, emphasising the importance of comfort in service delivery selection. We recognise that the findings of this study are constrained by the fact that it was conducted in a single geographical region and utilised a small qualitative sample. While telepractice was successful in managing paediatric feeding disorders, further development and implementation of telepractice guidelines are needed for telepractice to be a viable service delivery option for families and children with feeding disorders.
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