Toward Better Understanding of Pediatric Feeding Disorder: A Proposed Framework for Patient Characterization

• Authors: William Sharp, Emory University; Alan Silverman, Medical College of Wisconsin; Joan C Arvedson, Medical College of Wisconsin; Nancy F Bandstra, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital; Elizabeth Clawson, Payton Manning Childrens Ascens St Vincent; Rashelle C Berry, Childrens Healthcare Atlanta; Barbara McElhanon, Emory University; Alison M Kozlowski, Kennedy Krieger Institute; Mitchell Katz, Children’s Hospital of Orange County; Valerie Volkert, Emory University; Praveen S Goday, Medical College of Wisconsin; Colleen T Lukens, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
• Journal Title: JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION
• Volume: Volume 75, Number 3
• Publisher: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS | 2022-09-01, Pages 351-355
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000003519
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Mental Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Nutrition & Dietetics; Pediatrics; avoidant; feeding; multidisciplinary; nutrition; restrictive food intake disorder; STRESS

Abstract

To establish a foundation for methodologically sound research on the epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), a 28-member multidisciplinary panel with equal representation from medicine, nutrition, feeding skill, and psychology from seven national feeding programs convened to develop a case report form (CRF). This process relied upon recent advances in defining PFD, a review of the extant literature, expert consensus regarding best practices, and review of current patient characterization templates at participating institutions. The resultant PFD CRF involves patient characterization in four domains (ie, medical, nutrition, feeding skill, and psychosocial) and identifies the primary features of a feeding disorder based on PFD diagnostic criteria. A corresponding protocol provides guidance for completing the assessment process across the four domains. The PFD CRF promotes a standard procedure to support patient characterization, enhance methodological rigor, and provide a useful clinical tool for providers and researchers working with these disorders.