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. 2021 Jul;31(9):1596-1608.
doi: 10.1177/1049732321997133. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Parental Perspectives on Family Mealtimes Related to Gastrostomy Tube Feeding in Children

Ellen Backman  1   2 , Mats Granlund  3 , Ann-Kristin Karlsson  2
Affiliations

Parental Perspectives on Family Mealtimes Related to Gastrostomy Tube Feeding in Children

Ellen Backman et al. Qual Health Res. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Built on the important functions daily routines serve families and child health, this study aimed to explore parents' descriptions of mealtimes and food-related challenges when living with a child using a gastrostomy feeding tube. The study was informed by ecocultural theory and based on in-depth interviews combined with stimulated recall. The interviews of 10 parents were inductively analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis. Four main categories comprised the parents' descriptions: "One situation, different functions," "On the child's terms," "Doing something to me," and "An unpredictable pattern," with one overarching theme. The analyses showed that the parents strived to establish mealtimes in line with their cultural context, although they struggled to reach a point of satisfaction. The study highlights the importance of health care professionals to address the medical aspects of caring for a child with a G-tube, but also the potential psychological and social consequences for ordinary family life.

Keywords: Sweden; developmental disabilities; ecocultural theory; enteral nutrition; interviews; pediatrics; qualitative; stimulated recall.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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