Pediatric nurses' knowledge and practices of nasogastric tube placement and verification: A cross-sectional study

The study assesses pediatric nurses' knowledge and routine practices in relation to nasogastric tube (NGT) placement and verification procedure. By investigating these aspects, the study seeks to contribute to the enhancement of patient safety and the improvement of pediatric nursing care in the context of NGT procedures by ensuring accurate NGT placement and minimizing complications in pediatric patients. The study assesses pediatric nurses' knowledge and practices of inserting and confirming the placement of NGTs among pediatric patients in the Asir Province, Saudi Arabia.

In this multihospital cross-sectional study, a total of 130 pediatric nurses participated. The study used a validated questionnaire comprising two parts: one focusing on the demographic data of the pediatric nurses and the other assessing their knowledge and practices regarding NGT placement and verification. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression tests in the SPSS software. The research question addressed in this study was to determine the knowledge and practice levels of pediatric nurses in relation to NGT placement and verification.

This study included 130 registered pediatric nurses, of whom more than half had unsatisfactory knowledge (53.1%) and incompetent practices (58.5%) related to NGT insertion. Linear regression associated with perceived nurses' practices scores explained that knowledge score, years of experience, educational qualification, and training courses had a high-frequency positive effect on the practice score, with P < 0.01. Linear regression associated with perceived nurses' knowledge scores explained that educational qualification, practice score, and training courses had a high-frequency positive effect on the knowledge score, with P < 0.01.

The study found that pediatric nurses' knowledge and practices regarding NGT were inadequate. These results highlight the importance of implementing continuous educational programs to improve care practices pertaining to nasogastric tubes and enhance patient safety and quality of care.