Knowledge And Practice Regarding Enteral Nutrition In Critical Care Setting Among Health Care Professionals Of A Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Enteral nutrition plays a vital role in the management of critically ill patients. Proper knowledge and practice among healthcare professionals is essential to ensure its safe and effective use. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice regarding enteral nutrition among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 56 healthcare professionals working in critical care settings. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, knowledge, and practice. Statistical analysis included descriptive and correlation methods. Results: The majority of participants demonstrated satisfactory practices score (87.7%) regarding enteral nutrition, particularly in areas such as patient preparation, hand hygiene, and equipment handling. However, gaps in knowledge were identified, satisfactory knowledge shown by healthcare workers were only 42.86%. Correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between knowledge and practice (p = 0.822). Conclusion: While healthcare professionals exhibited strong practical skills in certain aspects of enteral nutrition care, but knowledge related gap was also present. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions and ongoing professional development programs to enhance both knowledge and clinical competence in critical care nutrition management.

Keywords: Critical care, Enteral nutrition, Healthcare professionals, Knowledge, Practice