Résumé
Eating disorders are still quite unknown among patients with cystic fibrosis, yet they are exposed to many risk factors. Professionals at the CRCM in Montpellier lack resources to detect these difficulties early enough and refer patients to speech therapists. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that eating disorders were present in children under 7 years old with cystic fibrosis at the CRCM in Montpellier. The second objective was to find out if other dietitians at CRCMs in France were facing the same issue than Montpellier. To do this, we administered the HME feeding scale (n=16) and sent a questionnaire to dietitians (n=22). Our results showed the presence of eating disorders, but we could not confirm that they were related to cystic fibrosis. This raised questions about the use of the HME for this specific population. Parental concerns were the most prominent domain due to the importance of nutrition for these children. The vast majority of CRCM dietitians confirmed the need for a screening tool. It is essential to rework the screening tools and to carry out new studies on a larger cohort. In addition, performing early speech and language assessments at key stages of feeding development could allow for early identification of eating disorders and contribute to improving the care and quality of life of children with cystic fibrosis.