A survey on pediatric nutrition and nutritional support in 45 hospitals

Objective To investigate, through a survey on hospitals, the disciplinary development of pediatric nutrition and the present situation of clinical nutritional support in China, in an effort to inform and promote development of pediatric clinical nutrition. Methods A questionnaire was designed by the group of clinical nutrition, Chinese Pediatric Society, Chinese Medical Association. Respondents were 45 hospitals where members of the group work. The survey included 8 aspects in clinical work. Results Of all the 45 hospitals, 40 were grade-A tertiary hospitals; 4 were grade-B tertiary hospitals; and one was a secondary hospital. 25 (55.6%) of the surveyed hospitals were children's hospitals, and 20 (44.4%) were general hospitals. All the hospitals were divided into 8 groups according to their geographical distribution in China, and East China hosted the most while Northeast China had the least. Nutritional support team (NST) was set up in 32 (71.1%) hospitals, with head of the team majoring in the specialty/subspecialty of pediatric gastroenterology or clinical nutrition. In 39 (86.7%) hospitals, physicians working in the nutrition department were attending or above, and in 38 (84.4%) tertiary hospitals, chief of the nutrition department held an academic title of associate chief or above. 39 (86.7%) hospitals had nutrition clinics, 42 (93.3%) provided nutritional counseling, 40 (88.9%) involved nutritionists in consultations, 25 (55.6%) had independent nutritional rounds. Screening tools for nutritional risk and dysplasia in children(STRONGkids) and screening tool for the assessment of malnutrition in pediatrics (STAMP) were the most widely used tools for malnutrition screening, and the same with self-rating depression scale(SDS) and percentile for nutritional status evaluation. In the most surveyed hospitals, key institutional requirement and procedural protocol were put in place for the nutritional department. Conclusions Pediatric clinical nutrition was developing well in tertiary hospitals in China. NST was established in most institutions. There was strong toolkit for clinical nutritional support and sound administrative institutions. There is room, though, for further improvement. Key words: Pediatrics; Nutritional support; Survey