New review on MDT experiences and perceptions of blended diet
We know from the Hub article this month that the use of blended diet is becoming more common. In a new review, Clancy et al (2024) looked at the experiences and perceptions of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) regarding blended diet in children in Ireland. The study was conducted across three sites in Ireland and included doctors, nurses and eligible AHPs (dietitians, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and medical social workers).
The response rate was 80.3%, with a 32.9% response from doctors, 31.9% from nursing staff and 15.5% from dietitians. 33.9% reported they had not heard of blended diet and of those who had heard of it, 68.1% had delivered care to a child/young person on blended diet. 70% of responders felt able to recommend blended diet to a family as a feeding option. 42.9% of responders who had experience of blended diet felt unable to recommend it as a treatment option, as they felt they were not competent in this area.
A key reason to recommend blended diet was parental desire (39.5%) and dietitians reported that current symptoms accounted for 55% of recommendations to consider starting blended diet. Almost 42% reported family logistics as a barrier to commencing blended diet, whilst 20.9% were concerned regarding the nutritional adequacy of blends. 92.4% of responders expressed an interest in receiving further information on blended diets, including information on the evidence base (24.7%), how to monitor the diet (25.6%) and how to plan a nutritionally balanced blended diet (22.6%).
This is the first study exploring MDT perceptions of blended diet in Europe and provides useful information for the needs of healthcare professionals to enable the provision of blended diet to move forward. Clancy et al (2024) conclude that healthcare settings should provide evidence-based training to healthcare professionals on blended diet, which would optimise the treatment and safety of young people in their care.
~ Hazel Duncan, RD
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