Author(s)
Drew Kutcher, BS
Christian Hochstim, MD, PhD
Beth Ostebrauer, MPH
Manvi Bansal, MD
Vrinda Bhardwaj, MD
Affiliation(s)
Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA USA
Abstract:
Background: There is a significant morbidity burden associated with feeding difficulty in children as well as the physical, time, and financial burdens on their caregivers. We aimed to assess how living with a feeding difficulty impacts the quality of life of patients and their caregivers compared to children without feeding difficulty.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of children attending the multidisciplinary Aerodigestive Clinic at a tertiary urban children’s hospital. All parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryTM (PedsQL) 4.0 and the PedsQLTM Family Impact Module questionnaires. Children 5 years of age and older completed the age group specific PedsQLTM 4.0 Child Report. Feeding difficulty was defined as a provider-documented difficulty with feeding or dysphagia, having a G-tube, or TEF.
Results: Mean scores for the Family Impact Module (FIM) were significantly lower in the feeding difficulty group as compared to the controls (61.2 [SD 20] vs. 79.9 [SD 16], p<0.001) representing more reported problems. The biggest differences in the parents’ report on their children’s quality of life were seen in the social and physical functioning of the children (68 [SD 22.5] vs. 82.3 [SD 19.7], p<0.001; and 64.8 [SD 26] vs. 80.2 [SD 21.2], p<0.001, respectively). Children’s self-reported scores were also consistently lower in the feeding difficulty group, compared to controls.