The effects of systematic educational interventions about nasogastric tube feeding on caregivers' knowledge and skills and the incidence of feeding complications.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the influence of a systematic nursing intervention on primary caregivers' knowledge and skills about nasogastric tube feeding and the number of nasogastric tube-related complications with that of routine nursing instructions


BACKGROUND
To ensure the quality of care and reduce the incidence of complications, it is crucial that primary caregivers receive comprehensive health education about nasogastric tube feeding before hospital discharge.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental research with pretest/post-test evaluations.


METHODS
The control group included 127 inpatients whose caregivers received routine education about nasogastric tube feeding, while the experimental group included 106 inpatients whose caregivers received systematic nursing intervention including comprehensive educational pamphlets and video education. The evaluation questionnaire included demographic variables, a nasogastric tube care knowledge scale, and a nasogastric tube skills assessment scale. The post-test was administered after the caregiver performed nasogastric tube feeding for the first time, and complications were noted at follow-up within three months of discharge.


RESULTS
In terms of post-test knowledge and skills, the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group, despite no difference in the pretests. In addition, the incidence rates for constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal distention were lower in the experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
Systematic nursing intervention, including comprehensive educational pamphlets and video education, significantly improved the knowledge and skills of primary caregivers for nasogastric tube feeding. The increased ability of caregivers may have contributed to less incidence of complication.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study underlined the importance of developing nasogastric tube-related nursing interventions and educational strategies for clinical nurses, home care nurses and caregivers. The research tool used here may serve as a reference for assessing the technical operations of healthcare professionals and the knowledge and skills of caregivers.
Department of Nursing, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.|College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dayeh University, Changhua, Taiwan.
Shu-Chen
SC
Chang
Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Chin-Yi
CY
Huang
School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.|Department of Respiratory care, College of Health Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Ching-Hsiung
CH
Lin
Department of Nursing, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Shu-Ling
SL
Tu
Department of Nursing, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Mei-Shih
MS
Chao
Department of Nursing, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
Mei-Hua
MH
Chen
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan
caregiver; nasogastric tube feeding; systematic nursing intervention