Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia.
Eating disorders and Nutrition Research Group 'ENRG', Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
J Hum Nutr Diet. 2023 Aug;36(4):1207-1213. doi: 10.1111/jhn.13170. Epub 2023 Apr 9.
Treatment of medically compromised patients with eating disorders is difficult in general hospital wards. There is currently no consensus on the best feeding method; however, previous research has demonstrated the safety of using enteral feeding. Because an oral diet has benefits on psychological and behavioural pathways, concurrent feeding requires further investigation. The present study aimed to examine acceptability and safety of implementing mini meals to a previously nil-by-mouth 7-day enteral feeding protocol.
This was mixed methods research including a retrospective observational study and participant survey. Patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia, between July 2020 and March 2021 were eligible. Eligible participants were provided mini meals from day 5. Type and quantity of meals consumed alongside clinical incident data were collected. The survey examined acceptability of mini meals. Descriptive statistics were used to interpret findings. Content analyses were conducted on survey responses.
Sixty-four participants (95%, n = 57/60 female, 25.2 ± 8.9 years; 75%, n = 45/60 diagnosed with anorexia nervosa) were included. At least half of the participants consumed some or all of the mini meals at each meal period. No clinical incidents were reported. Twenty-six (50%, n = 26/52) surveys were returned. Half (54%, n = 14/26) agreed-strongly agreed that mini meals improved their experience. Eleven participants desired more choice in menu items.
The present study found that introducing mini meals into an enteral feeding protocol is acceptable and safe for patients with eating disorders. Participants reported benefits in returning to eating; however, some items on the menu require reconsideration to enable increased consumption.
在综合医院病房中治疗有医疗问题的进食障碍患者较为困难。目前对于最佳喂养方法尚未达成共识；然而，既往研究已经证实了使用肠内喂养的安全性。由于口服饮食在心理和行为途径上具有益处，因此需要进一步研究同时喂养的方法。本研究旨在检查将小餐引入先前的 7 天肠内喂养方案的可接受性和安全性。
本研究为混合方法研究，包括回顾性观察性研究和参与者调查。2020 年 7 月至 2021 年 3 月期间，澳大利亚布里斯班的一家三级医院符合纳入标准的患者有资格参与。从第 5 天开始，为符合条件的参与者提供小餐。收集了所消耗的餐食的类型和数量以及临床事件数据。调查评估了小餐的可接受性。使用描述性统计来解释研究结果。对调查回复进行了内容分析。
共纳入 64 名参与者（95%，n=57/60 为女性，25.2±8.9 岁；75%，n=45/60 被诊断为神经性厌食症）。至少一半的参与者在每个用餐期间都至少部分食用了小餐。没有报告临床事件。共回收了 26（50%，n=26/52）份调查问卷。一半（54%，n=14/26）强烈同意小餐改善了他们的体验。11 名参与者希望菜单项目有更多选择。
本研究发现，对于进食障碍患者，将小餐引入肠内喂养方案是可接受且安全的。参与者报告称进食方面有所改善；然而，菜单上的某些项目需要重新考虑，以增加摄入量。
