Feeding with Care: Caregiver Perspectives on Pediatric Gastrostomy Tubes

TL;DR

This study explores how satisfied caregivers are with gastrostomy tubes for children in Jordan and finds high satisfaction linked to improved health and family well-being.

Contribution

The study introduces validated satisfaction scores for gastrostomy tube use in Jordan and identifies factors influencing caregiver experiences.

Findings

63% of caregivers expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with gastrostomy tube feeding.

82.6% of caregivers were satisfied with healthcare team support, and 89.1% reported reduced feeding time.

Over half of caregivers indicated earlier GT placement would have been agreed upon with better awareness of benefits.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Gastrostomy tube (GT) placement plays a vital role in managing children with chronic illnesses who are unable to meet their nutritional needs orally. While its clinical benefits are well established, limited data exist on caregivers’ satisfaction with GT use in Jordan. This study aimed to assess caregivers’ satisfaction and identify factors that influence their experiences by using a validated satisfaction scoring system in which a score greater than 20 indicates a high level of satisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jordan University Hospital, including children under 18 years of age who underwent endoscopic GT insertion between July 2017 and December 2024. Caregivers completed the Structured Satisfaction Questionnaire with Gastrostomy Feeding (SAGA-8), and demographic and clinical data were collected. Statistical analyses explored associations between satisfaction levels and patient-, caregiver-, and healthcare-related factors. Results: A total of 46 caregivers participated. The median satisfaction score was 26.1, surpassing the high satisfaction threshold of 20. Overall, 63% of caregivers expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with GT feeding, and 82.6% were satisfied with the support provided by the healthcare team. Additionally, 69.5% and 65.2% of caregivers reported improvements in their child’s nutritional status and overall family well-being, respectively. Notably, 89.1% observed a reduction in feeding time, and 84.8% reported fewer respiratory infections following GT placement. Over half of the caregivers (58.7%) indicated that they would have agreed to earlier GT placement if they had been more aware of its benefits. Conclusions: Caregivers reported high satisfaction with GT use, with scores well above the validated threshold indicating high satisfaction. These findings highlight the positive impact of GT placement on children’s health outcomes and family quality of life. Enhancing caregiver education and providing robust healthcare support are crucial to improving the management of children who require GT feeding.

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