[P2-116] Implementing, Training And Enhancing Nursing Care In Ketogenic Diet For An Infant With Refractory Epilepsy And Impact On Patient Experience
Introduction
Ketogenic diet (KD) is a medical treatment for controlling seizures and some metabolic disorders. In children, it is most frequently used in refractory epilepsy. For young infants it requires specialized team care and is often very challenging for the patient, family and healthcare professionals. For a 5 month-old boy with microcephaly, structural brain malformation and refractory epilepsy, we describe the implementation of KD, the training and enhancement of nursing care and the caregiver and patient experience.
Implementation and nurse training:
At KD initiation, explanation to parents about KD, milk and oil preparation, monitoring and complications. Nursing training involved multiple education sessions on theory and rationale of KD, recognition and management of complications and the importance of multidiscipline coordination and management. Intranasal atomized midazolam was used (the first time in such a young patient at our hospital) and this was implemented by the Neurology Specialty Care Nurses (NSCN). This was via a novel hands-on training scheme for ward nurses. Feedback was positive with requests for more KD and midazolam teaching.
Impact on patient experience:
NSCN had frequent and close contact with parents and this built trust and partnership. This positively impacted patient experience by facilitating communication between family and the multiple disciplines, providing personalized educational materials, a simple written Home treatment plan and improving parent confidence in use of KD in their child.
Conclusion
Focused healthcare professional KD training helps to provide best seizure management and experience for the patient and family.
Ketogenic diet (KD) is a medical treatment for controlling seizures and some metabolic disorders. In children, it is most frequently used in refractory epilepsy. For young infants it requires specialized team care and is often very challenging for the patient, family and healthcare professionals. For a 5 month-old boy with microcephaly, structural brain malformation and refractory epilepsy, we describe the implementation of KD, the training and enhancement of nursing care and the caregiver and patient experience.
Implementation and nurse training:
At KD initiation, explanation to parents about KD, milk and oil preparation, monitoring and complications. Nursing training involved multiple education sessions on theory and rationale of KD, recognition and management of complications and the importance of multidiscipline coordination and management. Intranasal atomized midazolam was used (the first time in such a young patient at our hospital) and this was implemented by the Neurology Specialty Care Nurses (NSCN). This was via a novel hands-on training scheme for ward nurses. Feedback was positive with requests for more KD and midazolam teaching.
Impact on patient experience:
NSCN had frequent and close contact with parents and this built trust and partnership. This positively impacted patient experience by facilitating communication between family and the multiple disciplines, providing personalized educational materials, a simple written Home treatment plan and improving parent confidence in use of KD in their child.
Conclusion
Focused healthcare professional KD training helps to provide best seizure management and experience for the patient and family.