Nurses' knowledge and attitudes about enteral feeding complications by nasogastric tube in intensive care units
Maher Abdulameer Atiyah, Abdulkareem Khudhair, Husham aoof, Ali Malik Tiryag, Sundus Baqer Dawood, Saja Kareem Jassim
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the knowledge and attitudes concerning enteral feeding difficulties by nasogastric tube and demographic variables and to evaluate nurses' knowledge and attitudes about these complications. Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the teaching hospitals in Al-Basrah City; Al-Basrah Teaching Hospital, Al-Mawani Teaching Hospital, Al-Faiha Teaching Hospital, and Al-Sadder Teaching Hospital from October 25, 2022, to February 15, 2023. One hundred fifty nurses were enrolled using purposeful (non-probability) technique. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Majority of nurses (63.3%) had little to no understanding about nasogastric tube complications, while just 26.7% and 10% had moderate or good knowledge, respectively. The majority of nurses (74%) had negative attitudes toward nasogastric tube problems, followed by nurses with moderate attitudes (11.3%) and positive attitudes (14.7%). Conclusion: Nurses had inadequate attitudes and knowledge regarding nasogastric tube complications associated with enteral feeding.