The FEED Project (Fortification: Enhancing Education at Discharge) is a Fraser Health Knowledge
Translation initiative led by dietitians at Surrey Memorial Hospitals NICU and Childrens Health Centre Erin Starman, Kaila Jabs, Sara de Roy, and Rebekah Sandhu in collaboration with our parent partners to whom we are grateful for sharing their lived experience.
Surrey Memorial Hospital is the largest regional hospital in Fraser Health. We are a regional centre for neonatology and pediatrics, housing a level 3 NICU, 20 bed pediatric medical unit, outpatient pediatric nutrition services, and the only pediatric emergency in the region.
Many infants we care for have medically complex diagnoses requiring additional calories and nutrients added to their feeds of human milk or formula known as fortified feeds. Our current education process for fortification involves verbally reviewing written handouts with caregivers. Nearly 40% of Surrey families do not primarily speak English primarily at home, making verbal instruction alone less effective. This increases risk for fortification errors at home, which can result in poor growth, dehydration, and gastrointestinal and/or kidney complications.
Our parent partners identified hands-on learning and visual tools would boost their confidence and
understanding of fortifying feeds at home. Evidence supports this: the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends visual aids for families with limited English proficiency, and a 2022 review highlights the effectiveness of videos combined with hands-on practice in improving feed preparation skills.
To address these gaps, the FEED Project will introduce two new tools: a mobile teaching cart for
hands-on learning during hospitalization, and multilingual instructional videos on the Fraser Health
dietitian YouTube channel for ongoing reference at home.
Expected outcomes include increased caregiver confidence and competence in fortification, reduced
fortification errors, improved infant health outcomes, and higher satisfaction among families and
healthcare providers in the education process. Ultimately, the FEED Project aims to make discharge
education more accessible and effective, empowering families to safely support their infants nutrition
and growth at home.