Feeding Characteristics in Children With Food Allergies: A Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy (FA) affects approximately 8% of children and may be immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated or non-IgE-mediated. It is recognized clinically that children with both subtypes of FA may present with features of pediatric feeding disorder (PFD); however, there is currently a limited detail of presenting characteristics. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to synthesize the current evidence regarding the feeding characteristics of children with FA, with a focus on the feeding skills and psychosocial domains of PFD. METHOD: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Papers published between 2001 and 2022 describing feeding characteristics in the feeding skills and psychosocial domains in children with FA/history of FA were included. Papers that focused solely on characteristics from the medical or nutritional domains were excluded. Descriptive information regarding demographics, methodology, allergy profile and history, and the characteristics of PFD observed was extracted using a preconceived data extraction form. RESULTS: Overall, 40 papers contained descriptions of feeding characteristics of children with non-IgE-mediated FA (n = 22) and IgE-mediated FA (n = 11), while four were nonspecific. In the psychosocial domain, food refusal/aversion, anxiety with eating, and poor intake were the most frequently reported, regardless of FA subtype. Less information was reported regarding feeding skills, although slowness in eating, immature diet, and delays in oral sensory-motor skills were described. CONCLUSIONS: Children with FA/history of FA may present with a range of characteristics that map across the feeding skill and psychosocial domains of PFD. Systematic research is needed to fully describe the feeding characteristics of children with FA. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24562732.

The health care experiences of people with head and neck cancer: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Understanding health care experience in head and neck cancer (HNC) is becoming increasingly important due to changes in the disease profile, survivorship, and a greater appreciation of patient health care experience as an important outcome measure. People with HNC encounter many different types of health care professionals and health care touchpoints. METHOD: Through systematic database searching, this scoping review of qualitative English-language studies describes the self-reported care experiences of those with HNC across the health care continuum, and describes the current state of the literature. RESULTS: Overall, the 95 studies identified were heterogeneous and investigated a broad range of topics. Trends across studies showed research centered on hospital-based care, conducted in developed countries, with more studies on feeding than other aspects of care. Generic qualitative research frameworks, with individual interviews, were the preferred method of data collection. CONCLUSION: Despite identifying many studies, there are significant gaps in our understanding of the HNC patient experience.

Exploring the impact of remoteness on people with head and neck cancer: Utilisation of a state-wide dataset.

OBJECTIVE: Living in regional/rural areas can impact outcomes for people with head and neck cancer (HNC). Using a comprehensive state-wide dataset, the impact of remoteness on key service parameters and outcomes for people with HNC was examined. METHODS: Retrospective quantitative analysis of routinely collected data held within the Queensland Oncology Repository. DESIGN: Quantitative methods (descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression and geospatial analysis). SETTING: All people diagnosed with HNC in Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: The impact of remoteness was examined in 1991 people (1171 metropolitan, 485 inner-regional, 335 rural) with HNC cancer diagnosed between 2013 and 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This paper reports key demographics and tumour characteristics (age, gender, socioeconomic status, First Nations status, co-morbidities, primary tumour site and staging), service use/uptake (treatment rates, attendance at multidisciplinary team review and timing to treatment) and post-acute outcomes (readmission rates, causes of readmission and 2-year survival). In addition to this, the distribution of people with HNC across QLD, distances travelled and patterns of readmission were also analysed. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed remoteness significantly (p < 0.001) impacted access to MDT review, receiving treatment, and time to treatment commencement, but not readmission or 2-year survival. Reasons for readmission did not differ by remoteness, with dysphagia, nutritional inadequacies, gastrointestinal disorders and fluid imbalance indicated in the majority of readmissions. Rural people were significantly (p < 0.0001) more likely to travel to care and to readmit to a different facility than provided primary treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into the health care disparities for people with HNC residing in regional/rural areas.