Children with feeding tubes benefit most from multidisciplinary care
"Our findings suggest that intensive multidisciplinary intervention holds clear benefit for children and families impacted by pediatric feeding disorders," says co-author William Sharp, PhD, director of the Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program at Marcus Autism Center and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. "Our hope is that this study raises awareness regarding the significant daily struggle too many families face surrounding mealtimes."
A new study finds positive outcomes associated with intensive multidisciplinary treatment for children with pediatric feeding disorder who may require a feeding tube to support growth and development. The results are reported in the early edition of The Journal of Pediatrics, from researchers at the Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine.
The meta-analysis of published work on feeding treatment methods in the United States and Europe showed that, on average, dependence on tube feeding was eliminated in 71 percent of children at discharge from multidisciplinary day hospital and inpatient treatment programs. Treatment gains endured over time, with 80 percent of patients tube-free at follow-up. Treatment was also associated with increased oral intake, improved mealtime behaviors and reduced caregiver stress.