Nutrient intake in UK paediatric intestinal transplant recipients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the factors that may contribute to nutrient intake in the UK paediatric intestinal transplant population. A mixed methods study.
IRAS ID
221990
Contact name
Mary Halter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's, University of London, Joint Research and Enterprise Office
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 9 days
Research summary
Before intestinal transplantation, children are given nutrition directly into their bloodstream using intravenous nutrition because their bowel is not able to absorb food. This is called parenteral nutrition. Although this is life-saving nutrition it can cause serious health problems such as liver disease and sepsis if given over a long time. After an intestinal transplant the goal is to be able to eat normally. This can be a challenge for children who have never eaten in their lives or who are afraid of food because eating has caused diarrhoea, pain or vomiting in the past.
This study aims to explore whether there are factors that make it more or less likely that a child will eat well after transplant. For example, the timing of the transplant, the age that solid foods were introduced, whether the child developed feeding skills before transplant and how much time has passed since transplant. Knowing this information could help to better prepare families before transplant.
All intestinal transplant recipients in the United Kingdom (currently 36) who are under 18 will be invited to complete a postal questionnaire and three-day food diary. The questionnaire will be filled in by parents/guardians on behalf of their child and includes the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, a tool to help understand eating behaviour, and questions related to feeding history and transplant characteristics. It should take 15 minutes to complete. The food diary can be filled in by older children or by the parent/guardian on behalf of or jointly with younger children and should take no more than 10 minutes per day to complete. Parents/guardians will be asked to return the questionnaire in a pre-stamped, addressed envelope. They will also be asked to indicate if they would like to participate in a 30 minute telephone interview about their child's eating experiences.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0571
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion