Replacement of a Nasogastric (NG) tube for feeding an infant in the home can be a stressful event forfamilies. This stress is exacerbated when the child is located in a rural community far from medical care,or for families without English literacy who may have difficulty following written instructions. Often times, children in urban areas will be taken to a clinic or emergency room to assist with NG tube replacementwhen it falls out, or needs to be changed. However, in a rural location the child's family may not have easyaccess to assistance. The proposed project develops technology in a parent friendly, non-written interfaceto assist the placement and verification of the NG tube in a rural location while a professional is monitoringand guiding them remotely. There is currently no system to assist underserved families in the home-basedplacement of NG feeding tubes. Studies have shown that parents who have infants needing home NG tube feeding can struggle with misplacement and other problems. This innovative project will create asystem with the use of a smartphone to provide real time support for the parent during the home-basedplacement of NG feeding tubes. The project is the integration of a reusable, low-cost NG tube placementguidance tool along with immediate feedback provided by the combination of a smartphone application incoordination with a remote caregiver via voice or video call. In phase I, a prototype system will bedeveloped. The acceptability and usability of the prototype will be evaluated in semi-structured interviews
Public Health Relevance Statement: Project Narrative
The placement of tubes via nose or mouth into the stomach or proximal small intestine is an important
component of patient care ranging from the emergency room, the operating room, the intensive care unit,
point-of-care, and home care of patients who require tube feedings, and in general medical-surgical wards
to decompress the stomach or to provide access for medications and feedings. Improper placement of
feeding tubes can result in serious and potentially lethal complications, especially when introduced to the
lungs.
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