{
  "abstract": "Failure to Thrive (FTT), also known as growth or weight faltering, is characterized by inadequate weight gain, poor growth, and potential developmental delays. Affecting up to 10% of outpatient pediatric populations and 5% of hospitalized children, FTT is particularly common among children with medical complexity. Traditional management depends on frequent in-person visits, which create barriers and delay interventions. To address these barriers, this study evaluated Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) combined with caregiver education as a proactive, cost-conscious approach to FTT management. A quasi-experimental cohort study was conducted with children (ages 1-10 years) with FTT and requiring feeding tube support. Families transmitted weekly weight and feeding data using Bluetooth-enabled scales, supplemented by structured caregiver education. Outcomes included weight, hospital and emergency department (ED) utilization, and cost of care. All 15 participants completed the six-month RPM program. Forty-two percent of participants (n = 6) achieved upward weight trends, 50% (n = 8) maintained stable weights, and 8% (n = 1) experienced a weight decline. Hospitalizations averaged 0.33 per patient pre-intervention, 0.60 during the intervention, and 0.33 post-intervention. Median hospitalizations were 0 (Q1 = 0, Q3 = 0) pre-intervention, 0 (Q1 = 0, Q3 = 1) during the intervention, and 0 (Q1 = 0, Q3 = 0.5) post-intervention. Emergency department visits averaged 1.07 pre-intervention, 0.60 during the intervention, and 0.87 post-intervention. Median ED visits were 0 (Q1 = 0, Q3 = 1) pre-intervention, 0 (Q1 = 0, Q3 = 1) during the intervention, and 1 (Q1 = 0, Q3 = 2) post-intervention. Median costs increased during the intervention phase before declining in the post-intervention period, despite mean costs being skewed upward by high utilizers. An RPM program integrated with caregiver education demonstrated feasibility in supporting proactive management of pediatric FTT. The intervention supported weight monitoring in this medically complex pediatric population, although healthcare utilization and costs varied across study periods. These preliminary findings support RPM may be a useful approach for managing pediatric FTT.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Center for Children with Medical Complexity, Children's of Mississippi, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.",
    "School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.",
    "Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.",
    "Division of Pediatric Palliative Care, Children's of Mississippi, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.",
    "Division of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.",
    "Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.",
    "Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine/John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jennifer Tisdale"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Kaitlyn B Newbaker"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Joy B Green"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Regina QaDan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Md Rokibul Hasan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lindsey B Kuiper"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Chris Collado"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Vinayak K Nahar"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3,
        4
      ],
      "name": "Jenna L Dear"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e0fcjy46m6dfv.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fped.2026.1823172",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13713794",
  "id": "e0fcjy46m6dfv",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2360"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953066",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Original Research"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221751519",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13713794?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13713794",
  "pmid": "42953066",
  "published": "2026-10-14",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e0fcjy46m6dfv.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T00:20:41Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42953066",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42953066"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T12:21:24Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13713794",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2026.1823172"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2738|Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Remote patient monitoring and caregiver education for children with failure to thrive: a quasi-experimental study.",
  "title_text": "Remote patient monitoring and caregiver education for children with failure to thrive: a quasi-experimental study.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-01T12:21:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/e0fcjy46m6dfv",
  "venue": "Frontiers in pediatrics",
  "versions": []
}