Preventing hospital admission <7 days old for feeding difficulties
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring strategies to prevent admissions to acute paediatric services at Alder Hey Children's hospital among infants under 7 days for feeding difficulties.
IRAS ID
319968
Contact name
Victoria Fallon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 24 days
Research summary
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside government cuts to community and child mental health services, there has been reduced access for new mothers regarding feeding support for their infants. A clinical audit conducted within Alder Hey Children's Hospital found that over half of newborn infants less than 7 days of age who had been admitted to the General Paediatrics department presented with feeding difficulties only, and no other symptoms of serious disease. If adequate feeding support was given, these hospital admissions could potentially be reduced. It is essential for research to investigate the characteristics of mothers of infants being admitted to the General Paediatrics department with feeding difficulties only, including maternal characteristics and infant anthropometry. It is also necessary to understand the experiences of mothers whose infant has been admitted for feeding difficulties only, including who is referring them, and why, as well as their perspective on any feeding support they may have received. The results of this research will allow us to better support mothers of infants less than 7 days of age within the Liverpool City Region, and prevent unecessary, and potentially life threatening, hospital admissions for newborns with feeding difficulties alone.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
23/ES/0009
Date of REC Opinion
7 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion