title: Dietary treatment of Crohn's disease: perceptions of families with children treated by exclusive enteral nutrition, a questionnaire survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diet is strongly associated with the aetiology of Crohn's Disease (CD) and exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the primary induction treatment in paediatric CD. This study explored opinions around the use of EEN and alternative novel, solid food-based diets (SFDs) expressed by paediatric patients with CD, previously treated with EEN and their parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This anonymous questionnaire surveyed families of CD patients treated with EEN over 1 year. Two questionnaire forms were completed; one asking the patients' opinions and another referring to their main carer. This questionnaire explored participants' demographic characteristics; acceptability of a repeat EEN course to treat a future flare (EEN repeat); their opinion on how difficult EEN would be compared to an example SFD; and their intention to participate in a future clinical trial assessing the therapeutic efficacy of an SFD in CD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one families of CD patients were approached with 29 sending replies (71%). Most of our participants were positive on completing another EEN course, however the majority would choose an SFD alternative (Patients:66, Parents:72%). Both patients and their parents rated EEN to be more difficult to adhere to compared to an example SFD (p < 0.05), and their ratings were strongly correlated (EEN:r = 0.83, SFD:r = 0.75, p < 0.001). The majority of our respondents would agree to participate in a clinical trial assessing an SFD's effectiveness (Patients:79, Parents:72%) for the management of active CD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While patients with CD and their families would accept an EEN repeat, the majority would prefer an SFD alternative. CD families surveyed are supportive of the development of solid food-based dietary treatments.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Vaios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Svolos
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerasimidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Vikki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garrick
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laird
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munro
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK. richard.hansen@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Crohn’s disease; Diet; Dietary therapy; Exclusive enteral nutrition; Perceptions