title: Assessment of drug administration via feeding tube and the knowledge of health-care professionals in a university hospital.
abstract: The use of drugs via feeding tube is problematic. Appropriate techniques must be used during the administration to prevent obstruction of a feeding tube, to avoid inadequate drug effects and to minimize the risk of toxicity of the given pharmaceuticals.
  
  
  
  In this study, medications of all the patients in a University Hospital with 1100 beds were monitored to identify the appropriateness of administration. The study was performed on 5 days each in 5 consecutive weeks to observe the current practice. After evaluation of practice, a questionnaire was given to doctors, nurses and pharmacists to determine the health-care professionals' attitudes on drug administration through a feeding tube.
  
  
  
  A total of 225 drugs (out of 13 935) were administered via feeding tube during the study period and 40.5% (n=91) were not administered in appropriate dosage forms. Only 86% of the doctors and 98% of the nurses stated that they pay attention to the suitability of drugs when they prescribe or administer drugs via feeding tube. Only 58% of pharmacists, 17% of nurses and 24% of doctors were aware of the fact that enteric-coated tablets should not be crushed owing to the risk of tube occlusion and lack of efficacy when they are administered via feeding tube.
  
  
  
  This study demonstrated the discordance between the theoretical knowledge and the practical performance of the health-care professionals in drug administration. In patients with feeding tubes, assessment of drug dosage forms by a pharmacist would be beneficial for appropriate administration and to prevent drug interactions.
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Demirkan
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bayraktar-Ekincioglu
authors: Department of General Medicine, Hacettepe University Hospitals, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gulhan-Halil
authors: Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University Hospitals, Ankara, Turkiye.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Abbasoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care
chemical_list: D004304:Dosage Forms