Jejunal feeding in patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction and gastrointestinal dysmotility: perceptions among health professionals

Objective Patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) and gastrointestinal dysmotility (GID) suffering from malnutrition may require jejunal feeding. Here, we surveyed the attitudes of health professionals who care for patients with DGBI and GID towards jejunal feeding. Method A 21-item digital questionnaire was designed and electronically distributed to members of the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Data were then analysed arithmetically and statistically. Results 76 individuals from various professional groups involved in the nutritional care of patients with DGBI and GID completed the questionnaire, with the majority being dietitians (57%) and physicians (28%). 69% of participants worked in settings where they had no access to a neurogastroenterologist. Respondents indicated that in their experience, GID conditions were more likely to require jejunal feeding (22%–30%) compared with DGBI conditions (4%–9%). Unexpectedly, despite DGBI being milder conditions than GID, more respondents were comfortable managing patients with GID than those with DGBI (61% vs 43%). Additionally, patients with GID were felt by respondents to tolerate jejunal feeding better (22%) than those with DGBI (9%). Most respondents stated that their patients with DGBI and GID (82%) were unable to tolerate jejunal infusion rates of more than 50mls per hour. All respondents (100%) stated that ≥25% of their patients took opioids. Conclusions This study expands our understanding of health professionals’ experiences of jejunal feeding in DGBI and GID and has highlighted several important issues, including poor access to neurogastroenterologists, high rates of opioid use and low tolerated infusion rates of jejunal feeding.