J. Pharm. Pharmacogn. Res., vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 1432-1443, Sep-Oct 2025.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.2164_13.5.1432

Original Article

Nurses’ practice, knowledge, and attitudes in medication administration via enteral feeding tubes: A pharmacist-led educational intervention in Vietnam

[Práctica, conocimientos y actitudes de las enfermeras en la administración de medicamentos a través de sondas de alimentación enteral: Una intervención educativa dirigida por farmacéuticos en Vietnam]

Huyen Thanh Nguyen¹, Ngan Nguyen-My Vo³, Ha Thi Vo^2,3*

¹Department of Pharmacy, Vinmec Central Park International Hospital, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

²Faculty of Pharmacy, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

³Department of Pharmacy, Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

*E-mail: havt@pnt.edu.vn, havothipharma@gmail.com

Abstract

Context: Improper administration of medications via the enteral route can lead to complications such as tube occlusion, reduced drug efficacy, increased toxicity, prolonged hospitalization, and higher healthcare costs.

Aims: To assess nurses’ practices and evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led educational intervention on nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding medication administration through enteral feeding tubes (EFTs).

Methods: A pre-/post-interventional study was conducted at a large hospital in Vietnam. A 29-item questionnaire was used, comprising 10 items on practice, 12 on knowledge, and 7 on attitude. The intervention consisted of a 2-hour in-person training session including presentations and discussions, delivered by clinical pharmacists.

Results: A total of 365 ward nurses participated. Ninety-five percent of nurses reported that they did not receive any training on medication administration through EFTs previously. The mean total knowledge score increased significantly from 5.44 ± 4.81 to 10.49 ± 1.41 (p<0.001). Only 18.6% responded that they crushed different medications separately and flushed the tube between each administration when multiple medications were used simultaneously. Problems related to drug administration via EFTs were tube occlusion (44.4%) and drug incompatibility (22.5%). The proportion of nurses who were confident in their knowledge and practice related to medication administration through EFTs increased by 45.4% and 43.6%, respectively (p<0.001) after the pharmacist intervention. After the intervention, the percentage of nurses who identified clinical pharmacists as the first people to ask questions about drug administration via EFTs significantly increased (from 7.7% to 55.6%, p<0.001).

Conclusions: A pharmacist-led educational intervention significantly improved nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and confidence regarding the administration of medication via enteral feeding tubes.

Keywords: clinical pharmacist; enteral feeding tube; knowledge improvement; medication administration; nursing education.

Resumen

Contexto: La administración inadecuada de medicamentos por vía enteral puede provocar complicaciones como la oclusión de la sonda, una menor eficacia del fármaco, un aumento de la toxicidad, una hospitalización prolongada y un mayor coste sanitario.

Objetivos: Evaluar las prácticas de enfermería y el impacto de una intervención educativa dirigida por farmacéuticos en sus conocimientos y actitudes respecto a la administración de medicamentos a través de sondas de alimentación enteral (TEP).

Métodos: Se realizó un estudio pre-/post-intervencionista en un gran hospital de Vietnam. Se utilizó un cuestionario de 29 preguntas: 10 sobre práctica, 12 sobre conocimientos y 7 sobre actitud. La intervención consistió en una sesión de formación presencial de 2 horas, con presentaciones y debates, impartida por farmacéuticos clínicos.

Resultados: Participaron 365 enfermeras de planta. El 95 % de las enfermeras indicó no haber recibido formación previa sobre la administración de medicamentos a través de TEP. La puntuación media de conocimientos totales aumentó significativamente de 5,44 ± 4,81 a 10,49 ± 1,41 (p < 0,001). Solo el 18,6% respondió que trituraba los diferentes medicamentos por separado y enjuagaba la sonda entre cada administración cuando se utilizaban varios medicamentos simultáneamente. Los problemas relacionados con la administración de fármacos mediante TFE fueron la oclusión de la sonda (44,4%) y la incompatibilidad farmacológica (22,5 %). La proporción de enfermeras que confiaban en sus conocimientos y prácticas en relación con la administración de medicamentos mediante TFE aumentó un 45,4% y un 43,6%, respectivamente (p<0,001) tras la intervención del farmacéutico. Tras la intervención, el porcentaje de enfermeras que identificaron a los farmacéuticos clínicos como los primeros en preguntar sobre la administración de fármacos mediante TFE aumentó significativamente (del 7,7% al 55,6%, p<0,001).

Conclusiones: Una intervención educativa dirigida por farmacéuticos mejoró significativamente los conocimientos, las actitudes y la confianza de las enfermeras respecto a la administración de medicamentos mediante sondas de alimentación enteral.

Palabras Clave: administración de medicamentos; farmacéutico clínico; formación en enfermería; mejora de conocimientos; sonda de alimentación enteral.

 

https://jppres.com/jppres/pdf/vol13/jppres24.2164_13.5.1432.pdf

Citation Format: Nguyen HT, Vo NNM, Vo HT (2025) Nurses’ practice, knowledge, and attitudes in medication administration via enteral feeding tubes: A pharmacist-led educational intervention in Vietnam. J Pharm Pharmacogn Res 13(5): 1432–1443. https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.2164_13.5.1432

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