Intensive Outpatient Programs for Pediatric Feeding Disorder: A Qualitative Study of Current Challenges and Future Directions.

Background: Although intensive multidisciplinary interventions (IMIs) provide benefits for patients with pediatric feeding disorders (PFD), access to these programs is limited and challenges faced by the programs remain unclear.

Objective: To better understand the barriers faced by existing day programs that provide IMI, disparities in patient care, and areas for improvement to better inform policy and improve access to treatment for PFD.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a leader of outpatient programs providing IMI in the United States. Data regarding leader's perspectives on disparities in patient care, barriers faced by the intensive multidisciplinary feeding day programs, and future goals and directions for their programming were collected. Afterward, a qualitative content analysis was conducted to consolidate and categorize information related to patient care, access, and barriers faced by day programs and patients with PFD.

Results: Barriers and challenges were identified at the patient, program, and systems levels. Patient-level barriers included familial resources or socioeconomic status, geographic distance from the program site, and difficulty with the time commitment, whereas program-level barriers included limited site personnel and capacity and long wait times. System-level barriers primarily center on insurance, with inconsistent coverage of services and limited payer knowledge about PFD and IMI.

Conclusion: IMIs are effective in managing PFD; however, a variety of patient-level, program-level, and systems-level factors serve as barriers for patient access to care and program success. Further research, improved reimbursement, and consensus statements on effective treatments can help improve access to and coverage for care, allowing for the development and sustainability of more programs.