Feeding Problems Assessment Tools in Children: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Child Development
• Clinical Assessment Tools

Background:

• Infant feeding problems can negatively impact a child's nutrition, growth, and brain development.
• Accurate assessment tools are crucial for identifying and managing pediatric feeding issues.
• Existing research on feeding problem assessment tools requires comprehensive mapping and analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map current research on pediatric feeding problem assessment tools.
• To summarize available assessment tools for children's feeding problems.
• To review current implications and identify gaps in existing assessment tools.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, and ProQuest databases.
• Search terms included "feeding difficult*", "eating problem", "tool", "child*", and "pediatric" within the last 10 years.
• Data from 47 included papers were manually analyzed and charted, with thematic analysis used for summarization.

Main Results:

• Twenty-three distinct assessment tools for children's feeding problems were identified.
• Pedi-EAT, MCH-FS, and BPFAS were the most frequently used tools.
• While 23 tools were validated, no single instrument comprehensively covers all aspects of feeding problems.

Conclusions:

• Commonly used tools like Pedi-EAT, MCH-FS, and BPFAS are valuable but not exhaustive.
• Significant gaps exist in the comprehensive assessment of pediatric feeding problems.
• Further research is needed to develop and refine tools that address the wide age range and multifaceted nature of feeding issues.