Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 21, 2026

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
04:53

A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition

Published on: September 20, 2019

11.5K

Inpatient Food Insecurity and Pediatric Hematology Oncology Hospitalization Outcomes

Joanna M Robles1,2, Greg Russell3, Leila H DeWitt1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|April 20, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Inpatient food insecurity (IFI) affects children with cancer, leading to longer hospital stays and increased readmission risks. Addressing IFI is crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric oncology patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hematology Oncology
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Healthcare Disparities

Background:

  • Children with cancer and blood disorders face significant risks of food insecurity.
  • Inpatient food insecurity (IFI) is a specific challenge within this vulnerable population.
  • Understanding IFI's impact is essential for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between inpatient food insecurity (IFI) and hospitalization outcomes.
  • To determine if IFI impacts length of stay and readmission rates in pediatric hematology oncology patients.
  • To highlight IFI as a distinct social risk factor.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of 325 caregivers for inpatient food insecurity (IFI).
  • Analysis of hospitalization outcomes, including length of stay and readmission rates.
  • Statistical evaluation of the association between IFI and identified outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 18.6% of caregivers screened positive for IFI, with many not experiencing general household food insecurity.
  • IFI was linked to a 33% longer mean length of stay (3.9 vs. 2.6 days, p < 0.0001).
  • Patients with IFI had 1.4 times higher odds of readmission (95% CI = 0.9-2.2, p = 0.1).

Conclusions:

  • Inpatient food insecurity (IFI) is a significant issue in pediatric cancer and blood disorder care.
  • IFI is associated with poorer hospitalization outcomes, including extended stays and higher readmission rates.
  • IFI should be recognized and addressed as a critical social risk factor in this patient population.

Keywords:
food insecurityhealthcare utilizationhealth‐related social needshospitalizationshousehold material hardship

Related Concept Videos

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding01:15

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding

Enteral nutrition encompasses various methods of delivering nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, bypassing traditional oral intake. It is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot eat by mouth but have a functioning digestive system. Key methods include nasointestinal feeding, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, each suited to different clinical scenarios based on the patient's needs and condition.
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube...
1.9K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
895
Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding01:26

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding

Enteral nutrition delivers nutrients directly to the stomach or small intestine through a tube. This method is appropriate for patients who cannot eat but still have a functioning digestive system. It is also beneficial for individuals with swallowing difficulties, anorexia, malabsorption, or those who have undergone gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
2.8K
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
1.1K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
518
Nursing Ethical Principles II01:27

Nursing Ethical Principles II

Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...
2.7K