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Simione M, Harshman S, Cooper-Vince CE, Daigle K, Sorbo J, Kuhlthau K, Fiechtner L. Examining Health Conditions, Impairments, and Quality of Life for Pediatric Feeding Disorders. Dysphagia 2023; 38:220-226. [PMID: 35486189 PMCID: PMC9616965 DOI: 10.1007/s00455-022-10455-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
By understanding health conditions, impairments, and impact on quality of life for pediatric feeding disorders, assessment and treatment approaches can target multiple levels of health-related domains that improve child health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to characterize medical diagnoses and feeding impairments for children with feeding disorders; examine child quality of life and caregiver impact; and compare quality of life differences between children with feeding disorders and children with other conditions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Greater Boston Area, between October 2017 and June 2018. Fifty children with a feeding disorder diagnosis, ages 2-5 years, were enrolled. Demographic and clinical data were abstracted from the electronic health record to characterize medical diagnoses and impairments. Parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Generic Core Scales 4.0 (PedsQL) and the Feeding/Swallowing Impact Survey (FS-IS) to understand child quality of life and caregiver impact. We calculated descriptive statistics across the medical diagnosis and impairment groups, and for the surveys. Children presented with heterogeneous medical diagnoses and feeding impairments. We found a mean (SD) total score of 72.82(19.21) on the PedsQL and 2.33(0.89) on the FS-IS demonstrating that children with feeding disorders presented with poor quality of life and their caregivers were negatively impacted by their feeding difficulties. By understanding medical diagnoses, impairments, and quality of life, assessment and treatment methods can be tailored to children's specific needs, as well as address the overall wellbeing of children and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meg Simione
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 860, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Stephanie Harshman
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
- Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 175 Cambridge St, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Kelly Daigle
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jessica Sorbo
- Department of Speech, Language, and Swallowing Disorders, Massachusetts General Hospital, 275 Cambridge St, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen Kuhlthau
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 860, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren Fiechtner
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 860, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 175 Cambridge St, Boston, MA, USA
- Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston, MA, USA
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