Evaluating Outcome Measure Data for an Intensive Interdisciplinary Home-Based Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary home-based feeding program, which is a unique service delivery model. Methods: Data were provided on oral intake, tube feeding elimination, and weight for patients who were dependent on tube feedings (n = 78). Weight data were collected for patients who showed failure to thrive (n = 49). Number of foods consumed and percentage of solids were collected for patients who were liquid-dependent (n = 23), and number of foods consumed were collected for patients who were food-selective (n = 61). Results: Data were analyzed using paired sample t-test with 95% confidence interval. For patients dependent on tube feedings, 81% achieved tube feeding elimination. Tube elimination was achieved after 8 months of treatment on average. All failure-to-thrive patients showed weight gain from baseline to discharge. For liquid-dependent patients, there was an increase in foods consumed from 2 foods at admission to 32 foods at discharge. For food selective patients, there was an increase from 4 foods at admission to 35 foods at discharge. For all dependent variables, results showed statistical significance and a large-sized effect. Conclusions: These data show that an intensive interdisciplinary home-based program can be successful in treating complex feeding problems in children.

Incorporating social validity into practice: Treatment progression across pediatric feeding skill domains

“…Crucial to SV, research may lack details on generalization and maintenance (Kennedy, 1992; Ulloa et al., 2019), routine processes (e.g., progressing to portion‐based meals workable in family mealtimes including siblings, guidelines for feeders in other contexts, and eating away from home), and the broader range of goals met, permanent product data, or long‐term improvements in nutrition and quality of life. Moreover, most research has been reported from controlled settings with standardised processes (Sharp et al., 2017; Taylor & Taylor, 2023), and more details are needed on varied processes in translating intensive programmes to home settings (Patel et al., 2022; S. A. Taylor et al., 2019; Taylor et al., 2020). These gaps may limit both researcher's and practitioner's interpretation and utility of the research (Lukens & Silverman, 2014; Sharp et al., 2017; Taylor & Taylor, 2023).…”

Using an intensive interdisciplinary telehealth model to treat pediatric feeding disorders

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of these types of multidisciplinary hospital or clinic‐based day‐ or inpatient‐treatment programs (e.g., Babbitt et al, 1994; Piazza & Carroll‐Hernandez, 2004). More recently the efficacy of an intensive interdisciplinary home‐based program has also been evaluated and shown to have positive treatment outcomes (Patel et al, 2022).…”