Home enteral feeding audit 1 year post-initiation.

Title
Home enteral feeding audit 1 year post-initiation.

Source
Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics. 19(1):27-9, 2006 Feb.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the practical problems that families of children on home enteral tube feeds (HETF) experience in the first year post-hospital discharge.

METHODS

Thirty parents/carers of children (0-16 years) completed a multiple choice/short answer questionnaire by interview 12 months after discharge from hospital. Issues addressed included: home delivery of feed and equipment; pump usage; tube changes; and overnight feeding.

RESULTS:

The main problems identified were: sleep disturbance (75%); frequent tube dislodgement (46%); tube blockages (41%); inability of some home delivery companies (HDC) to provide all the paediatric special feeds required (43%); and pump inaccuracy (23%).

Conclusions

Children on long-term HETF and their families experience significant problems with sleep disturbance, tube dislodgement and tube blockage. In addition, accuracy of pumps and obtaining feed and equipment was a source of stress. Dietitians and community nurses urgently need to explore solutions to the common problems associated with overnight feeding. Furthermore, regular home reviews are necessary in long-term HETF to continue to identify and minimize problems.