Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Does Volume-based Enteral Feeding Improve Nutrient Delivery in Hospitalized Critically Ill Children?

This study is about making sure seriously ill children in hospital get enough food, as they often don't get all the nutrients they need through tube feeding. This can slow down their recovery and keep them in hospital longer. Currently, nurses set a steady flow for tube feeds, but interruptions mean children miss out. Researchers want to test if a new method, where nurses adjust the feed volume throughout the day to meet a set goal, helps children receive more consistent nutrition. This initial study will check if this new feeding approach is practical before a larger trial explores if it truly improves children's health, such as reducing infections and shortening hospital stays.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Calgary

Enrolment target

Start

20 Mar 2024

Estimated completion

01 Apr 2027

Enteral Feeding

What is this study about?

When children are very unwell and in intensive care, they often need special tube feedings to help them get better. Unfortunately, these feedings can sometimes be interrupted, meaning children don't get all the important nutrients they need. This can make their recovery slower and mean they stay in hospital for longer. The usual way hospitals do this is by setting a constant speed for the feeding tube, but nurses can't easily make up for any missed feeding time.

Researchers are looking at a different way to manage these tube feedings. Instead of just setting a constant speed, they want to see if nurses can aim for a total amount of feed to be given over a day. This means if there are interruptions, the nurse could speed up the feed later to make sure the child still gets the full amount of nutrition intended. This study is the first step to see if this new, "volume-based" approach is practical and safe for children in intensive care.

This early study isn't about proving directly that children will get better, but rather about checking if this new feeding method can be used effectively by hospital staff. The results will help researchers design a bigger study in the future to understand if getting more consistent nutrition actually helps children recover faster, reduces their risk of infections, and helps them leave the hospital sooner.

Key takeaways

This study aims to improve how seriously ill children receive tube feedings in hospital.
It compares two ways of giving tube feeds: a new 'volume-based' method and the current 'rate-based' method.
The main goal is to see if the new feeding method is practical to use in intensive care.
The results will help design a larger study to find out if this method improves children's health.
All tube feeding methods used in the study are standard hospital practices.
Participation is voluntary and will not affect your child's medical care.

Who may be eligible?

This study is designed for children who are seriously ill and require tube feeding while in the intensive care unit. To be included, children must be between one month and 18 years old and are expected to stay in intensive care for at least two days. They must also be starting tube feeding as part of their care.

However, some children won't be able to take part. This includes children receiving end-of-life care, those who can't have tube feeding due to problems with their digestive system, or if they are already receiving nutrition directly into their veins. Also, children being fed in quick bursts rather than a continuous flow, or those who can't take much tube feed within 24 hours, won't be eligible. Lastly, if a child is expected to be in intensive care for less than two days, they also cannot join.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is my child between 1 month and 18 years old?
Is my child expected to stay in intensive care for at least 2 days?
Will my child be starting tube feeding?
Does my child have a working digestive system?
Is my child NOT receiving nutrition into their veins?
Is my child NOT receiving end-of-life care?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If your child takes part, they will be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will receive their tube feeds using the current hospital method (where a constant hourly rate is set). The other group will receive feeds using the new method, where nurses adjust the feed volumes to ensure a daily nutrition goal is met. All other aspects of your child's care, including assessments, will be the same as they would be receiving normally in intensive care. The study will mainly involve nurses carefully tracking how much food your child receives and how well they tolerate it. There are no extra hospital visits or long-term follow-up beyond your child's usual hospital stay.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer benefits such as helping us understand how to improve feeding for seriously ill children, potentially leading to better recovery for future patients. There are no known direct risks beyond those already present for children in intensive care needing tube feeding, as both feeding methods are standard approaches. You are completely free to withdraw your child from the study at any time without affecting their medical care.

Locations (1)

Alberta Children's Hospital
Verified postcode
Calgary, Canada

Common questions

What is 'tube feeding'?

Tube feeding is when a special liquid food is given through a soft tube, usually placed into the nose and going down into the tummy, for children who can't eat enough normally.

Why do seriously ill children need this study?

Sometimes, seriously ill children don't get enough nutrition while in hospital, which can slow down their recovery. This study aims to find the best way to give them tube feeds.

What is the difference between 'volume-based' and 'rate-based' feeding?

Rate-based feeding means giving food at a constant speed each hour. Volume-based feeding means nurses adjust the speed throughout the day to make sure the child gets a total amount of food over 24 hours.

Will my child get different medical care if they join?

No, your child's medical care will remain the same. The study only looks at how tube feedings are delivered, not other treatments.

What does a 'feasibility trial' mean?

A feasibility trial is a small first step to see if a new idea or method works in practice and is possible to study on a larger scale. It's not the final step to prove if it makes a difference to health.