Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Nutrition Support: A Descriptive Study

Authors : Nurdan Gezer, Ezgi Arslan

Pages : 1-12

View : 82 | Download : 80

Publication Date : 2023-12-27

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: This study aimed to determine surgical and intensive care nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding nutrition support. Method: The sample size of this descriptive cross-sectional study was calculated using G-Power software. The study sample included 95 nurses working in a university hospital. Study data were collected using a questionnaire form questioning nurses’ introductory characteristics and independent variables of the study. Study data were evaluated using descriptive statistics (mean and percentage values) and chi-square analyses. Findings: The nurses’ mean age was found to be 27.45±5.132 years. Of the nurses, 84.2% had training regarding nutrition support, and 97.9% provided care to patients receiving nutrition support. The nurses’ mean knowledge score regarding nutrition support was determined to be 50.11±1.95. Their mean attitude score regarding nutrition support was determined to be 12.37±0.2.High percentages of the nurses gave wrong answers for the definition of malnutrition (84.2%),the ideal time for beginning nutrition support (77.9%), the metabolic response to stress (77.9%), and biochemical parameters to be followed up in patients receiving nutrition support (76.8%). Of the nurses, 58.9% agreed that they had enough knowledge and skill to determine if patients are at risk of malnutrition, 57.9% agreed that complications and duration of hospitalization would decrease with sufficient nutrition support, and 63.2% agreed that training regarding nutrition assessment and nutrition support would be valuable for their vocational careers. Conclusion: This study found that the nurses’ level of knowledge and attitudes regarding nutrition support treatment was not adequate. Following may be recommended: determining each patient’s nutrition condition, initiating and maintaining nutrition support treatment in the patient groups at risk, applying effective nursing care for the prevention of complications, updating current in-service training and evaluating them at specific intervals.
Keywords : Nutrition support, nurse, level of knowledge, attitude