Exclusive Enteral Nutrition for the Treatment of Pediatric Crohn's Disease: The Patient Perspective

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, incurable and relapsing disease involving any part of the gastrointestinal tract and exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is first-line therapy. Few studies have examined the patient experience of EEN. The aim of this study was to assess the child' s experiences of EEN, to identify problematic themes and understand the child's mindset. Children with CD who previously completed EEN were recruited to complete a survey. All data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and reported as N (%). Forty-four children (mean age 11.3 years) consented to participate. Sixty-eight percent of children reported limited formula flavors as the most challenging aspect and 68% of children identified 'support' to be important. This study highlights the psychological impact of chronic disease and its therapies on children. Providing adequate support is essential to insure EEN is successful. Further studies are required to determine psychological support strategies for children taking EEN.

Automated summary

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, incurable and relapsing disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is the first-line therapy for CD, but little is known about the patient experience of EEN. This study aimed to assess children's experiences of EEN and understand their mindset. The findings show that limited formula flavors and the need for support are important challenges for children on EEN. Psychological support strategies should be developed to ensure successful implementation of EEN in children.