Management of the nasogastric tube: knowledge and attitudes of nurses. Observational study

Introduction: The main objective of this work was to determine the degree of knowledge of the correct drug administration practices through the nasogatric tube by the nursing staff. Material and methods: A transversal descriptive obsevational study was carried out starting from June 2018 and completed in December 2018, through the administration of a questionnaire. The study population concerned nursing staff operating in a hospital situated in a region of the center of Italy. Results: from the evaluation of the questionnaire, 47.7% of the interviewed professionals showed to have a lack of knowledge of the correct management practices of the nasogatric tube, 14.9% very poor and only 27.3% adequate. No professional has shown to have very adequate training in the subject. Discussion: through the research activity carried out, the present study highlights the knowledge of the correct management and administration practices of drugs through the gastric nose probe by the nursing staff involved in the care process. Conclusions: According to the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Spanish Society of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition, the Guidelines of the European Parenteral Nutrition and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) and of the Italian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SINPE), was surprising to note through the results of the present observational study, how no respondent has shown to possess a high level of knowledge of good clinical practices regarding the management and the administration of drugs and nutritional mixtures through a naso-gastric probe.