The risks, benefits, and resource implications of different diets in gastrostomy-fed children: The YourTube mixed method study

Fraser L, Bedendo A, O’Neill M, Taylor J, Hackett J, Horridge K, Cade J, Richardson G, Phung TH, Beresford B, McCarter A, Hewitt C
Record ID 32018014357
English
Authors' objectives: Many children receive some or all their nutritional intake via a gastrostomy. More parents are using home-blended meals to feed their children, reporting beneficial effects, such as improved gastro-oesophageal reflux and less distress.
Authors' results and conclusions: Participants believed the type of diet would most likely affect gastrointestinal symptoms, time spent on feeding, sleep and physical health. Findings show that home-blended diets for children who are gastrostomy fed should be seen as a safe alternative to formula feeding for children unless there is a clinical contraindication.
Authors' methods: A mixed-methods study of gastrostomy-fed children. The target sample for children in workstream 1 was not achieved. The observational study design means unmeasured confounding may still be an issue. Children in this cohort had been on their home-blended diets for different periods of time. A lack of good reference data for nutritional and anthropometric data for disabled children does hinder further interpretation of nutritional adequacy.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2025
URL for additional information: English
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Full HTA
Country: England, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
  • Enteral Nutrition
  • Gastrostomy
  • Child
  • Diet
  • Parents
  • Food, Formulated
Contact
Organisation Name: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme
Contact Address: NIHR Journals Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, Alpha House, University of Southampton Science Park, Southampton SO16 7NS, UK
Contact Name: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
Contact Email: journals.library@nihr.ac.uk
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.