Postdischarge Feedings for the Preterm Infant

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine if primary practitioners would continue enriched formula in preterm infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. A 10-question survey was mailed to pediatricians and medicine/pediatrics and family practitioners. Questions involved formula choice, length of administration, and adequacy of growth. Of 436 surveys, 87 were returned (20% response rate). For scenario 1, a former 30-week preterm infant, the percentage of primary care physicians who correctly continued enriched discharge formula was 75%. For scenario 2, a 29-week preterm infant with broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, the percentage of primary care physicians who continued preterm discharge formula was 84%. For scenario 3, a 33.5-week small for gestational age preterm infant, the percentage of primary care physicians who continued preterm discharge formula was 53%. Despite American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, 15% to 48% of primary care physicians would change preterm infants from the correct enriched discharge formula.