Enteral feeding in the critically ill: are nursing practices contributing to hypocaloric feeding?

Marshall, AP; West, SH

Enteral feeding in the critically ill: are nursing practices contributing to hypocaloric feeding?

Marshall, AP

West, SH

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Intensive Crit Care Nurs, 2006, 22 (2), pp. 95 - 105
Issue Date:: 2006-04

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	2006004298.pdf		2.13 MB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Marshall, AP https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7692-403X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	West, SH	en_US
dc.date.available	2005-09-05	en_US
dc.date.issued	2006-04	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Intensive Crit Care Nurs, 2006, 22 (2), pp. 95 - 105	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0964-3397	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4589
dc.description.abstract	INTRODUCTION: Enteral feeding is the preferred method of nutritional support for the critically ill; however, a significant number of these patients are under-fed. It is possible that common nursing practices associated with the delivery of enteral feeding may contribute to under-feeding although there is little data available describing nursing practice in this area. METHOD: A descriptive survey-based design was used to explore the enteral feeding practices of 376 critical care nurses (response rate 50.5%). Participants completed a 57-item survey that focused on general enteral feeding practice and the management of feeding intolerance and complications. RESULTS: The enteral feeding practice of critical care nurses varied widely and included some practices that could contribute to under-feeding in the critically ill. Practices associated with the measurement of gastric residual volumes (GRV) were identified as the most significant potential contributor to under-feeding. GRV measurements were commonly used to assess feeding tolerance (n = 338; 89.9%) and identified as a reason to delay feeding (n = 246; 65.4%). Delayed gastric emptying was frequently managed by prokinetic agents (n = 237; 63%) and decreasing the rate of feeding (n = 247; 65.7%) while nursing measures, such as changing patient position (n = 81; 21.5%) or checking tube placement (n = 94; 25%) were less frequently reported. CONCLUSION: The findings of this survey support the contention that nursing practices associated with the delivery of enteral feeds may contribute to under-feeding in the critically ill patient population.	en_US
dc.language	eng	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Intensive Crit Care Nurs	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.iccn.2005.09.004	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Nursing	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Critical Illness	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Diarrhea	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Enteral Nutrition	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Critical Care	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Intubation, Gastrointestinal	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Clinical Nursing Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Energy Intake	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nutritional Requirements	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Gastrointestinal Motility	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nursing Staff, Hospital	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	Enteral feeding in the critically ill: are nursing practices contributing to hypocaloric feeding?	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	22	en_US
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands	en_US
utslib.for	111003 Clinical Nursing: Secondary (Acute Care)	en_US
utslib.for	1110 Nursing	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	22	en_US

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Enteral feeding is the preferred method of nutritional support for the critically ill; however, a significant number of these patients are under-fed. It is possible that common nursing practices associated with the delivery of enteral feeding may contribute to under-feeding although there is little data available describing nursing practice in this area. METHOD: A descriptive survey-based design was used to explore the enteral feeding practices of 376 critical care nurses (response rate 50.5%). Participants completed a 57-item survey that focused on general enteral feeding practice and the management of feeding intolerance and complications. RESULTS: The enteral feeding practice of critical care nurses varied widely and included some practices that could contribute to under-feeding in the critically ill. Practices associated with the measurement of gastric residual volumes (GRV) were identified as the most significant potential contributor to under-feeding. GRV measurements were commonly used to assess feeding tolerance (n = 338; 89.9%) and identified as a reason to delay feeding (n = 246; 65.4%). Delayed gastric emptying was frequently managed by prokinetic agents (n = 237; 63%) and decreasing the rate of feeding (n = 247; 65.7%) while nursing measures, such as changing patient position (n = 81; 21.5%) or checking tube placement (n = 94; 25%) were less frequently reported. CONCLUSION: The findings of this survey support the contention that nursing practices associated with the delivery of enteral feeds may contribute to under-feeding in the critically ill patient population.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4589