Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Enteral Nutrition Management Among ICU Nurses

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Nursing
• Nutritional Support
• Healthcare Education

Background:

• Intensive care unit (ICU) patients often have complex nutritional needs.
• ICU nurses are pivotal in managing enteral nutrition delivery.
• Disruptions in nutritional support can negatively impact patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of ICU nurses regarding enteral nutrition.
• To identify factors influencing nurses' KAP in enteral nutrition management.
• To explore the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre, cross-sectional study involving 420 ICU nurses in China.
• Utilized a self-developed questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data and assess KAP.
• Employed correlation analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) to analyze data.

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated generally inadequate knowledge but positive attitudes and proactive practices concerning enteral nutrition.
• Positive correlations were observed between knowledge, attitudes, and practices (p < 0.001).
• Attitude partially mediated the relationship between knowledge and practice (β = 0.462, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• ICU nurses require enhanced knowledge of enteral nutrition to optimize patient care.
• Positive attitudes and practices exist, but knowledge deficits need addressing.
• Targeted educational interventions are essential to improve enteral nutrition management.