KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES AMONG NURSES ON ENTERAL NUTRITION THERAPY FOR THE CANCER PATIENTS ON TUBE FEEDING AT APEKSHA HOSPITAL, SRI LANKA: A PRELIMINARY RESULT

Abstract

Introduction & Objectives: Enteral feeding is the standard of nutritional care for orally confined cancer patients and nurses play a crucial role. The aim was to assess the nurses’ knowledge and practices on enteral nutrition therapy for the cancer patients on tube feeding at Apeksha Hospital, Sri Lanka. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done using stratified random sampling to select participants in Apeksha Hospital.Validated selfadministered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and participants were individually observed for practices while administering tube feeding using a validated observational checklist. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 for analysis. Significance level was taken as P<0.05. Results: Sample size was 100. Majority were unmarried (62%) and age between 25 – 30 years (78%). Most were females (92%) and with nursing diploma (91%). Less than half of the participants had (30%) ≥3 years’ experience as a practice nurse. Mean knowledge score was 68.23±9.73 SD and 48% had inadequate level of knowledge in enteral nutrition therapy. Mean practice score was 24.17±3.14 SD and 55% were competent in enteral feeding practice. A slightly positive correlation was found between the total knowledge scores and the total practice scores of the participants (r=0.101) which was not statistically significant (P=0.318). A slightly negative correlation (r= -0.007) was found between the total practice scores and the years of experience as a nurse. Conclusion: Knowledge of the nurses on enteral nutrition therapy and experience had a very little impact on their practices on enteral feeding at Apeksha Hospital.