One Tube Does Not Fit All: Parent Experiences and Decision-Making for Choosing a Nasogastric Tube or Gastrostomy for Their Child During Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant

Abstract

Background: Children undergoing bone marrow transplant (BMT) are at risk of developing malnutrition. A feeding tube becomes a requirement for most children to meet their nutritional and medication requirements. Two tubes are typically used: nasogastric tube (NGT) or gastrostomy. At the UK center where this study took place, parents are offered a choice between these tubes. Objective: This qualitative data collection in a mixed methods study explored why parents choose either tube and their experiences of using it. Methods: Parents participated in 2 semistructured interviews. First, on admission to explore why they chose either tube. Second, 1–2 months postdischarge to explore their experience of using the tube. Interviews took place over 18 months. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results: Sixteen parents whose child had an NGT, 17 a gastrostomy, were interviewed. Choice was experienced across a continuum of difficulty and freedom. Many parents deferred to the expertise of professionals; others felt they were the experts in their child. Influential factors in decision-making included expected duration of need, the child’s age and activity, cosmetic differences, balancing gastrostomy surgery against NGT dislodgement, lay advice, healthcare professionals’ recommendations and prior tube feeding experiences. Conclusions: Parents valued choice appreciating 1 feeding tube might not suit every child. Implications for Practice: Choice of a gastrostomy or NGT should be offered to children prior to BMT. What is Foundational: Parents navigate a complex decision-making process when choosing a feeding tube for their child. Healthcare professionals can facilitate informed decision-making through collaborative discussions, inclusion of peer support, and provision of balanced information.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/cr9.0000000000000052
Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Optometry > Optometry
Additional Information: Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of Cancer Care Research Online. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Bone marrow transplant, Decision-making, Experiences, Gastrostomy, Nasogastric tube, Pediatrics, Thematic analysis
Publication ISSN: 2691-3623
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2024 13:41
Date Deposited: 16 Feb 2024 15:35
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Related URLs: https://journal ... nces_and.1.aspx (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2024-04
Published Online Date: 2024-02-06
Accepted Date: 2023-12-04
Authors: Evans, James
Lanigan, Julie
Green, Dan (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-1934-6725)
O’Connor, Graeme
Gibson, Faith

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