Objectives Parents of children with medical complexity are often expected to implement complicated plans of care, such as enteral tube feeding, to support the health of their child. Enteral feeding can have psychosocial implications for the parent, child, and family. Blenderized tube feeding (BTF) refers to the administration of pureed food and drinks through a feeding tube. Little is known regarding parents’ experiences with BTF. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experience of BTF from the parent’s perspective. Methods This qualitative study was a grounded theory analysis utilizing semi-structured interviews of parents who provided at least 50% of their child’s diet through BTF. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling from the Complex Care Program at a tertiary care paediatric centre. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was achieved. Themes were identified using constant comparative analysis of transcribed interviews. Results Parents (n=10) felt that BTF positively affected the experience of tube feeding and enhanced their child’s health and wellbeing. Parents described BTF as a means of self-empowerment and a mechanism to normalize feeding and care for the entire family. Despite reporting BTF as more time consuming than formula feeding, all parents were satisfied with having made the change, and planned on continuing the diet. Conclusion BTFs can improve the experience of tube feeding and positively address some of the negative psychosocial implications of enteral tube feeding, providing a sense of normalcy and control for parents caring for a child with medical complexity.

中文翻译：

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父母对医疗复杂性儿童混合管饲的经验和看法

目标 患有医疗复杂性儿童的父母通常被期望实施复杂的护理计划，例如肠内管饲，以支持他们孩子的健康。肠内喂养可能对父母、孩子和家庭产生社会心理影响。混合管饲 (BTF) 是指通过饲管喂食泥状食物和饮料。关于父母对 BTF 的经历知之甚少。因此，这项定性研究的目的是从父母的角度了解 BTF 的生活经历。方法 这项定性研究是一项扎根的理论分析，利用对通过 BTF 提供至少 50% 孩子饮食的父母的半结构化访谈。参与者是在三级护理儿科中心使用复杂护理计划的有目的抽样招募的。访谈一直进行到主题达到饱和为止。使用转录访谈的持续比较分析来确定主题。结果 父母（n=10）认为 BTF 对管饲体验产生积极影响，并增强了孩子的健康和幸福感。家长们将 BTF 描述为一种自我赋权的手段，以及一种使整个家庭的喂养和护理正常化的机制。尽管报告 BTF 比配方喂养更耗时，但所有父母都对做出改变感到满意，并计划继续饮食。结论 BTF 可以改善管饲体验，并积极解决肠内管饲的一些负面心理社会影响，为照顾复杂医疗儿童的父母提供正常感和控制感。