ABSTRACT
Background
Paediatric tube feeding is a crucial intervention for children unable to meet nutritional needs orally, yet information available to families is often insufficient. This study explores the availability and quality of online patient education materials (OPEMs) on paediatric tube feeding and discusses their applicability to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Methods
A naturalistic search strategy mimicking how parents would use Google search was employed using pre-defined search terms regarding support for paediatric tube feeding. Webpages were included if they provided educational content for caregivers. The first page of each search was screened, and webpages within relevant Aotearoa sites were also reviewed. Data on accessibility, readability, understandability, actionability, content analysis and completeness were collected and analysed.
Results
Fifty-nine webpages were included and analysed. Readability consistently exceeded the maximum recommended eighth-grade level. Official sources targeting parents scored high in understandability and actionability. Official webpages also demonstrated the highest content coverage. The content analysis identified 34 individual topic codes. Rarely addressed topics included emotional aspects of the child and social management of tube feeding. Some content provided general advice that did not account for variations in children’s medical conditions, developmental stages or family contexts.
Conclusion
These findings are clinically relevant, guiding professionals on the effective use of existing OPEMs. Despite high understandability and actionability scores from some sources, significant gaps remain. OPEMs have the potential to improve health equity by improving website content, centralising information and enhancing access to education that empowers family-centred care and wellbeing.
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 38, Issue 4, August 2025. Read More