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Factors Impacting on Eating in Pediatric Intestinal‐Transplant Recipients: A Mixed‐Methods Study
Author(s) -
Mancell Sara,
Meyer Rosan,
Hind Jonathan,
Halter Mary
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nutrition in clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1941-2452
pISSN - 0884-5336
DOI - 10.1002/ncp.10439
Subject(s) - medicine , thematic analysis , telephone interview , clinical psychology , qualitative research , gerontology , sociology , social science
Background No empirical data are found examining why eating may be difficult for some children and not others following intestinal transplant. This study aimed to describe the eating behaviors and nutrition intake of intestinal‐transplant–recipient children and examine factors that may impact on their eating. Methods Caregivers of all (n = 34) intestinal‐transplant recipients <18 years of age in the United Kingdom were invited to participate in this mixed‐methods study comprising questionnaires, a 3‐day food diary and interviews. Questionnaires included the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and demographic/nutrition‐related items. Analysis was by descriptive statistics using SPSS. Semistructured telephone interviews explored caregiver perceptions of their child's eating. Analysis was thematic. Results Nine caregivers were recruited and completed the questionnaire and food diary. Eight of these were interviewed. Home tube feeding was required by 77% (n = 7) of children post transplant, 56% (n = 5) were “food avoidant”, and median energy intake was 93% (range, 61%–137%) of requirements. The findings revealed complex, interrelated positive and negative medical, caregiver, and child‐related influences on eating. Learning to eat at the recommended age and having positive and significant pretransplant eating experiences appeared protective, whereas receiving nothing by mouth and having aversive experiences were barriers. Conclusion This study provides the first empirical evidence of factors that may influence eating after intestinal transplant in children. The findings suggest promoting eating pretransplant, when the negative physical consequences can be managed, may be protective, and there may be eating‐difficulty predictors that could be used to facilitate targeted interventions.