Home enteral feeding audit 1 year post-initiation.
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.
Evans
S
S
Department of Dietetics, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK. evanss21@onetel.com
Holden
C
C
MacDonald
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors