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☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Nurses' attitudes towards COVID‐19 vaccines: A qualitative study (PROACTIVE‐study)

Abstract

Aim

To explore the attitudes of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 vaccines.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design was used.

Methods

Five focus groups were conducted between October and November 2021, with a total of 30 nurses from different contexts in Northern Italy. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts.

Results

Three main themes were identified: ‘favourable’, ‘unsure’ and ‘contrary to’ COVID-19 vaccines. The favourable position was underpinned by trust in science, research and vaccination; protection for themselves, their families, patients and the population; duty as professionals; necessity to set an example for others. Participants who were unsure had doubts about the composition, safety and efficacy of the vaccine and were sometimes afraid that media provided incomplete information. The main reason why nurses were against was the feeling that being forced to vaccinate perceived as blackmail. Favourable or unsure nurses struggled to deal with those who were against and developed a series of emotions that ranged from respect and attempt to rationalize, to frustration and defeat.

Conclusions

Identifying the areas of hesitation is essential to understand what affects the choices of acceptance, delay or refusal of vaccination. The issues that emerged regarding proper communication within the vaccination campaign highlights the key importance of adequate vaccination strategies.

Implication for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Understanding attitudes towards vaccine and related motivations among healthcare workers could help develop more specific and targeted vaccination campaigns that can ensure proper vaccination coverage rates and avoid hesitancy or refusal.

Impact

Healthcare workers experiences of COVID-19 vaccines, their views and know how they feel during COVID-19 vaccinations. Healthcare workers had three different positions in COVID-19 vaccination. This research will guide and target future vaccination campaigns.

Reporting Method

The study is reported using the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Effectiveness of shared decision‐making for mode of delivery after caesarean section: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Por: Lin Yu · Xiaoting Sun · Jianmei Gong · Man Liu · Shengmiao Yu · Lei Liu — Mayo 28th 2024 at 07:33

Abstract

Aim

To review the content, format and effectiveness of shared decision-making interventions for mode of delivery after caesarean section for pregnant women.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Six databases (PubMed, Web of science Core Collection, Cochrance Network, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched starting at the time of establishment of the database to May 2023. Following the PRISMAs and use Review Manager 5.3 software for meta-analysis. Two review authors independently assessed the quality of the studies using the risk of bias 2 tool. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023410536).

Results

The search strategy obtained 1675 references. After abstract and full text screening, a total of seven studies were included. Shared decision-making interventions include decision aids and counselling that can help pregnant women analyse the pros and cons of various options and help them make decisions that are consistent with their values. The pooled results showed that shared decision-making intervention alleviated decisional conflicts regarding mode of delivery after caesarean section, but had no effect on knowledge and informed choice.

Conclusion

The results of our review suggest that shared decision-making is an effective intervention to improve the quality of decision-making about the mode of delivery of pregnant women after caesarean section. However, due to the low quality of the evidence, it is recommended that more studies be conducted in the future to improve the quality of the evidence.

Correlation with Clinical Practice

This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence for the effectiveness of shared decision-making for mode of delivery after cesarean section and may provide a basis for the development of intervention to promote the participation of pregnant women in the decision-making process.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Core competencies among nurses engaged in pallative care: A scoping review

Por: Junchen Guo · Yunyun Dai · Yongyi Chen · Zhen Liang · Yonghong Hu · Xianghua Xu · Yazhou Xiao — Mayo 27th 2024 at 07:45

Abstract

Aim

To synthesize available evidence about core competencies for nurses engaged in palliative care.

Design

A scoping review conducted according to the framework from Joanna Briggs Institute.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist was adopted to report this scoping review. The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ScienceDriect, CNKI, WangFang, VIP and Sinomed databases were used to systematically search for published studies from their inception to December 2023. Two researchers independently screened and selected relevant studies and performed the data charting.

Results

Twenty-six studies were included in this scoping review. Among these, 14 studies identified core competency assessment instruments among nurses engaged in palliative care, with the Palliative Care Core Competence Questionnaire was used most frequently; 13 studies investigated the status of core competencies of nurses engaged in palliative care, the majority of included studies indicated that nurse's core competencies were at moderate levels; 11 studies explored the factors influencing the core competencies of the nurses engaged in palliative care, which were classified as sociodemographic-related factors, palliative care education-related factors, death attitude, palliative care practice-related experience and others.

Conclusion

This scoping review offers a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of core competencies among nurses in palliative care. Findings suggested that the clinical nursing leaders need to develop tailored strategies and interventions to address specific factors and promote the continuous development of nurses' competencies in palliative care.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Core competency assessment instruments equip nurses and healthcare organizations with a range of validated tools for evaluating their proficiency in palliative care. Targeted core competency enhancement programmes need to be developed to foster a nursing workforce better equipped to improve the quality of life of end-of-life patients and their families.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Analysis of the factors influencing of sleep quality in intensive care unit awake patients based on a structural equation model: A cross‐sectional study

Por: Yanting Zhang · Ying Xu · Zheng Cao · Yuan Zhang · Yihua Yang · Jin Li · Xinbo Ding · Fen Hu · Jing Ma — Mayo 27th 2024 at 06:39

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study was to construct and validate a structural equation model (SEM) to identify factors associated with sleep quality in awake patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to assist in the development of clinical intervention strategies.

Research Methods/Setting

In this cross-sectional study, 200 awake patients who were cared for in the ICU of a tertiary hospital in China were surveyed via several self-report questionnaires and wearable actigraphy sleep monitoring devices. Based on the collected data, structural equation modelling analysis was performed using SPSS and AMOS statistical analysis software. The study is reported using the STROBE checklist.

Results

The fit indices of the SEM were acceptable: χ2/df = 1.676 (p < .001) and RMSEA = .058 (p < 0.080). Anxiety/depression had a direct negative effect on the sleep quality of awake patients cared for in the ICU (β = −.440, p < .001). In addition, disease-freeness progress had an indirect negative effect on the sleep quality of awake patients cared for in the ICU (β = −.142, p < .001). Analgesics had an indirect negative effect on the sleep quality of awake patients cared for in the ICU through pain and sedatives (β = −.082, p < .001). Sedation had a direct positive effect on the sleep quality of conscious patients cared for in the ICU (β = .493; p < .001).

Conclusion

The results of the SEM showed that the sleep quality of awake patients cared for in the ICU is mainly affected by psychological and disease-related factors, especially anxiety, depression and pain, so we can improve the sleep quality of patients through psychological intervention and drug intervention.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Development and validation of a nomogram for oral mucosal membrane pressure injuries in ICU patients: A prospective cohort study

Por: Lingli Jia · Yuchun Deng · Yu Xu · Xiaoli Wu · Dan Liu · Muying Li · Shijun Huang · Yaodan Zhang · Aiping Du · Huan Liu · Yongming Tian — Mayo 27th 2024 at 06:36

Abstract

Aims

Establishing a nomogram to estimate the probability of oral mucosal membrane pressure injury of endotracheal tube-intubated hospitalized patients in intensive care unit.

Design

Multicentre prospective cohort study.

Methods

Using Lasso regression and COX regression, variable selection was performed on demographic, clinical and laboratory data of 1037 ICU endotracheal tube-intubated hospitalized patients from West China Hospital, to construct a nomogram. External validation was conducted on 484 ICU endotracheal tube-intubated patients from People's Hospital of Zhongjiang County.

Results

Among 38 potential predictors, five variables emerged as independent predictors, integrated into the nomogram: administration of antibiotics, nutritional therapy duration, agitation, hypotension and albumin levels.

Conclusions

We established a nomogram based on the hospital characteristics of ICU endotracheal tube-intubated patients, aiding in the prediction of the occurrence of oral mucosal membrane pressure injury.

Reporting Method

The study followed TRIPOD guidelines.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The nomogram we developed can assist clinical worker in better identifying at-risk patients and risk factors. It enables the implementation of evidence-based nursing interventions in care to prevent the development of oral mucosal membrane pressure injury.

Trial registration

The study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn) under registration number ChiCTR2200056615.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Relationship between social support and self‐care ability among patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation: The multiple mediating roles of resilience and depression

Por: Xiu‐Ying Tang · Yu‐Xian Wei · Ling‐Na Kong · Fang Lu — Mayo 27th 2024 at 06:28

Abstract

Aims

To identify the multiple mediating effects of resilience and depression between social support and self-care ability among patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation to provide reference for developing and implementing targeted interventions.

Design

A cross-sectional study reported according to the STROBE checklist.

Methods

A convenience sample of 320 patients with breast cancer during rehabilitation was recruited from one hospital in China. Data were collected from April to August 2022 using a self-report questionnaire, including the demographic and clinical information, Appraisal of Self-Care Agency Scale-Revised, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 item, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The mediation analysis was conducted using the SPSS Process macro.

Results

Self-care ability was positively associated with social support (β = .229) and resilience (β = .290), and negatively associated with depression (β = −.208). The relationship between social support and self-care ability was mediated by resilience and depression, respectively, and together in serial. The multiple mediating effects accounted for 34.0% of the total effect of social support on self-care ability.

Conclusion

Our findings identify resilience and depression as multiple mediators between social support and self-care ability and highlight the important roles of social support, resilience and depression in improving self-care ability.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Healthcare providers should pay great attention to the underlying mechanisms of how social support affects patients' self-care ability during breast cancer rehabilitation. Integrated intervention programmes targeted at enhancing social support, building resilience and alleviating depression might be beneficial to the improvement of self-care ability.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Reporting Method

The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross-sectional studies was applied to report the results.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Commitment and efforts to maintain mentoring: Nurse managers' perceptions of structuring mentoring provision for new nurses in a hospital setting

Por: Pernilla Berndtsson · Maria Skyvell‐Nilsson · Eva Brink · Malin Berghammer — Mayo 27th 2024 at 06:28

Abstract

Aim

The aim of the present study was to describe nurse managers' perceptions of the provision of mentoring for newly graduated registered nurses (NGRNs) and its contribution to the work environment in a hospital setting.

Background

Nurse managers are responsible for the work environment and for supporting the staff's professional development, which includes giving NGRNs organizational support during their introduction to the workplace. Mentorship is one common way to provide support, but there is a lack of knowledge about how nurse managers view this support.

Design/Method

This was a qualitative descriptive study, using a semi-structured interview guide. Fifteen individual interviews with nurse managers were performed in hospital settings. The interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The COREQ guidelines and checklist were used.

Results

The results describe the nurse managers' perceptions of the provision of mentoring in three themes: Ensuring and sustaining mentoring for new nurses' needs is a struggle in the harsh reality of healthcare, Identifying mentors who are willing and possess the necessary competence for the assignment and Promoting a secure and attractive workplace by mentoring new nurses.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that nurse managers are important in the provision of mentoring for NGRNs' learning and professional development. Mentoring has a positive spillover effect on the entire unit as a sustainable approach to securing and improving the work environment. Our study also identifies challenges for nurse managers to structure mentoring provision.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care

This study highlights the importance of investment in mentoring for the NGRNs' professional development and for patient care. Support is needed from the top level of the organization, but how mentoring should be structured and facilitated needs to be investigated further.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Nurses' intention and attitude to participate in advance care planning: An extended theory of planned behaviour using structural equation modelling–A cross‐sectional study

Por: Apiradee   · Chung‐Yin Lin · Virapun Wirojratana · Peng‐Chan Lin · Bih‐Ching Shu — Mayo 21st 2024 at 08:04

Abstract

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing nurses' intentions to participate in advance care planning (ACP) by examining the mediating roles of attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control in the relationship between knowledge and intention, using an extended theory of planned behaviour and structural equation modelling.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and April 2023, involving 515 registered nurses, selected through two-stage sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered online survey distributed via the internal communication system of hospital. Structural equation Modelling was employed to analyse the relationships among knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control and intention to participate in ACP.

Results

The results supported two hypotheses regarding the relationships between knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and intention (p < 0.05). While the direct effect of knowledge on intention was not significant (β = 0.087, p = 0.292), the total indirect effect through attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control was significant (β = 0.449, p < 0.001), accounting for approximately 83.77% of the total effect on intention. This underscores the critical role of these mediators in influencing nurses' intention to participate in ACP.

Conclusions

This study highlights the significant indirect influence of knowledge on nurses' intentions to participate in ACP through attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. These findings suggest that targeted educational is needed to enhance ACP participation among nurses.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Understanding the role of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control can enhance nursing practice. Creating supportive environments and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration are crucial. Professional development through training, mentorship and role modelling can empower nurses in ACP. Comprehensive programs that increase knowledge and foster positive attitudes are essential for advancing ACP practice among nurses.

Impact

Educational programs aimed at nurses should include components designed to strengthen knowledge and the identified mediators, equipping nurses with the necessary ACP skills. Organizational support through appropriate policy frameworks can facilitate these educational endeavours and ensure a sustainable impact on practice.

Reporting Method

The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross-sectional studies.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Quantitative blood loss measurement methods for early detection of primary postpartum haemorrhage following vaginal birth: A scoping review

Por: Tong Wang · Hong Li · Ying Liu · Xiongkuo Min — Mayo 20th 2024 at 07:33

Abstract

Aim

To map the commonly used quantitative blood loss measurement methods in clinical practice and provide a solid foundation for future studies.

Design and Method

This study adhered to the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews. We conducted a literature search using five databases to retrieve articles published between January 2012 and September 2022. The search was repeated on 29 February 2024. Data extraction and verification were carried out by two independent researchers using a self-designed data extraction form.

Results

Ultimately, 26 studies published between 2012 and 2024 were considered eligible for inclusion. Six categories of methods were identified from the 26 articles. Among the included studies, only two involved randomized controlled trials, with the majority being observational studies. The World Health Organization (2012) version of the postpartum haemorrhage diagnostic criteria was predominantly used in most studies. Gravimetric and volumetric methods emerged as the most commonly used methods for quantifying postpartum haemorrhages. The timing of blood collection was inconsistent among the included studies. Only 12 studies mentioned measures for the management of amniotic fluid.

Conclusions

This scoping review supports the replacement of the visual estimation of blood loss with quantitative assessment methods. Supporting a specific assessment approach is not feasible due to the variability of the study. Future research should focus on establishing the best practices for specific quantitative methods to standardize the management of postpartum haemorrhage and reduce the incidence of postpartum haemorrhage-related adverse outcomes.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Healthcare professionals need to acknowledge the low accuracy of visual estimation methods and implement quantitative methods to assess postpartum blood loss. Given the limitations inherent in each assessment method, quantification of blood loss should be combined with assessment of maternal vital signs, physiologic indicators and other factors.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

A balance of unsafe care incidents and interactive cooperative care: A constructivist grounded theory study of safe care ecosystem for older inpatients

Por: Lupei Yan · Xiaorong Wu · Li Liu · Fang Wang · Xiuying Hu — Mayo 20th 2024 at 07:29

Abstract

Aims

To explore older inpatients and their caregivers' care experience and how this relates to the gerontology care practice.

Background

Research interest in the conceptualization of safe care for older inpatients was growing, and these studies were predominantly reported from a single or healthcare perspective. There is a shortage of literature on how patients and their caregivers conceptualise safe care.

Design

Constructivist grounded theory.

Methods

Stage 1 included semi-structured interviews with inpatients. Stage 2 included semi-structured interviews with caregivers and six field notes. Purposive and theoretical sampling were used to recruit 61 participants across six healthcare institutions. Data analysis included initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding using constant comparative, field notes and memo writing.

Results

The substantive theory to emerge from the data was A balance of unsafe care incidents and interactive cooperative care. This core concept was informed by four categories: unsafe care incidents, interactive cooperative care, person-centred care, contextual conditions, and one care outcome. The relationships between these categories constituted a balance in which patient-centred care was the core, unsafe care incidents were the barriers, interactive cooperative care was the facilitator, and the result of the balance was the care outcome. The balance constituted a safe care ecosystem under the interaction of contextual conditions.

Conclusions

Interactive cooperative care is vital in enabling care stakeholders to reduce unsafe care incidents, which facilitates them in achieving safe care and further constructing a healthy care ecosystem.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This theory identifies barriers and facilitators encountered by care stakeholders to cope with everyday problems and guides them in developing personalised care plans to ensure patient safety.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

A nomogram‐based prediction model for dysphagia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A cross‐sectional study

Por: Ying Fan · Yuxin Shi · Yunyun Wu · Fang Yang · Chao Zhang · Mengjun Gu · Pengchao Hu · Wenjie Duan · Hongli Wang · Yumei Zhou — Mayo 20th 2024 at 07:23

Abstract

Aim and Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of dysphagia in patients with COPD, identify the risk factors for dysphagia, develop a visual clinical prediction model and quantitatively predict the probability of developing dysphagia.

Background

Patients with COPD are at high risk of dysphagia, which is strongly linked to the acute exacerbation of their condition. The use of effective tools to predict its risk may contribute to the early identification and treatment of dysphagia in patients with COPD.

Design

A cross-sectional design.

Methods

From July 2021 to April 2023, we enrolled 405 patients with COPD for this study. The clinical prediction model was constructed according to the results of a univariate analysis and a logistic regression analysis, evaluated by discrimination, calibration and decision curve analysis and visualized by a nomogram. This study was reported using the TRIPOD checklist.

Results

In total, 405 patients with COPD experienced dysphagia with a prevalence of 59.01%. A visual prediction model was constructed based on age, whether combined with cerebrovascular disease, chronic pulmonary heart disease, acute exacerbation of COPD, home noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, dyspnoea level and xerostomia level. The model exhibited excellent discrimination at an AUC of .879. Calibration curve analysis indicated a good agreement between experimental and predicted values, and the decision curve analysis showed a high clinical utility.

Conclusion

The model we devised may be used in clinical settings to predict the occurrence of dysphagia in patients with COPD at an early stage.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The model can help nursing staff to calculate the risk probability of dysphagia in patients with COPD, formulate personalized preventive care measures for high-risk groups as soon as possible to achieve early prevention or delay of dysphagia and its related complications and improve the prognosis.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Exploring staff experiences and perceptions of patient‐perpetrated violence in hospital settings: A qualitative study

Por: Dana Sammut · Liz Lees‐Deutsch · Luul Ali · Jennifer Imasogie · Lavinia Nkundo · Nutmeg Hallett — Mayo 20th 2024 at 07:19

Abstract

Aims

To explore hospital staff experiences and perceptions of patient-perpetrated violence.

Design

Descriptive qualitative study.

Methods

Twelve semi-structured interviews (June–August 2022) were held with a diverse sample of hospital nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, security and a non-clinical manager. The framework approach was used to organise and analyse data, using Attribution Theory as a theoretical lens.

Results

Three themes were identified: violence as (un)predictable, violence as (un)preventable and the cumulative toll of violence. In making sense of why patients become violent, participants described different ‘types’ of aggressive patients and variably attributed behaviours to situation, disposition or a combination of both. Regardless of perceived causal factors, staff overwhelmingly appeared to view violence as predictable. Participants also reflected on the wider structural problems underpinning violence, frequently alluding to their sense of relative powerlessness to initiate change. The cumulative toll of violence was a common thread, with staff describing their acquisition of ‘resilience’ and reflecting on its role in their responses to escalating situations.

Conclusions

Many hospital staff are resigned to the inevitability of violence. The concept of staff ‘resilience’ following violence is not unproblematic, having the potential to serve as a guise for acceptance and as an additional variable for which staff are held accountable. When designing strategies, organisations should ensure that accountability for violence reduction is distributed across multiple levels. This study makes a novel contribution by exploring the perspectives of multiple staff groups working across diverse hospital settings, and adds to a sparse literature on this subject in the UK.

Implications for the Profession

Efforts to address violence against healthcare staff need to be power-conscious, ensuring that accountability is distributed across multiple levels.

Reporting Method

This study is reported in line with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ).

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

Perceived stress, positive psychological capital and health literacy in patients with multiple chronic conditions: A structural equation modelling

Por: Jiaxu Zou · Ying Liu — Mayo 20th 2024 at 07:05

Abstract

Aim

To investigate the structural relationships among perceived stress (PS), positive psychological capital (PsyCap) and health literacy (HL) in patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and construct a model to explore the relationships of PS and PsyCap on HL.

Background

HL is critical in the rehabilitation and management of patients with MCC. Extensive understanding of the relationships between research variables can help nursing staff to implement effective programmes that improve the level of HL of patients. However, currently there is no research that has evaluated the structural relationships among these variables using a single model.

Methods

This study adhered to the STROBE guidelines for reporting cross-sectional studies. The Health Literacy Scale for Chronic Patients, Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) and Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire were used to assess HL, PS and PsyCap, respectively. Questionnaires were distributed to 317 patients with MCC attending a tertiary general care hospital in China from February to May 2023, using convenience sampling approach. Structural equation modelling was used to validate the proposed model.

Results

The findings showed that PS has a negative relationship with HL and PsyCap. PS was indirectly associated with HL through PsyCap. The results indicated that PsyCap was positively associated with HL. The PS and PsyCap explained 64% of the variance in HL.

Conclusions

The findings showed that the proposed model had high validity and structural relationships between chosen variables were observed for MCC patients.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

These results may help nursing staff develop strategies to improve the HL of patients with MCC, which should focus on reducing PS and enhancing PsyCap to improve HL. Nursing staff can provide targeted psychological counselling and health guidance for patients to alleviate negative emotions and further promote their HL.

Patient or Public Contribution

Participate in research and fill out questionnaires.

☐ ☆ ✇ Journal of Clinical Nursing

A prospective observational study of pH testing to confirm ongoing nasogastric tube position

Por: Kate Glen · Christine Elizabeth Weekes · Merrilyn Banks · Ismail Arbi · Mary Hannan‐Jones — Mayo 20th 2024 at 06:54

Abstract

Aims and Objectives

To measure the reliability of pH testing to confirm ongoing nasogastric tube (NGT) position and to document associated complications.

Background

Confirming NGT position is essential, as use of an incorrectly positioned tube can cause harm. Substantial evidence examines initial confirmation of NGT position, yet limited evidence exists considers NGT displacement which is identified via ongoing NGT position tests. In the NHS, pH testing is recommended to confirm ongoing NGT position; however, there may be an association with excess X-rays and missed enteral nutrition and/or medications.

Design

Prospective observational study using STROBE checklist.

Methods

Data collected from medical records of 136 patients with NGTs in a London NHS Trust included pH tests, test results and complications related to ongoing pH tests which failed to confirm the tube was positioned in the stomach, that is, X-rays, and disruptions to enteral nutrition and medication. Cohen's Kappa determined pH test reliability.

Results

Of 1381 pH tests conducted to confirm NGT position, five (0.3%) correctly identified an NGT displacement, and one (0.07%) failed to identify displacement before use. The reliability of ongoing pH tests using Cohen's Kappa was minimal (0.29). Ongoing pH tests that failed to confirm a correctly positioned NGT led to 31 (22.8%) patients having X-rays, 24 (17.6%) missing >10% of prescribed enteral nutrition and 25 (18.4%) missing a critical medication.

Conclusion

Ongoing NGT position testing using pH tests did not prevent the use of a displaced tube, and more than one-fifth of patients required X-rays to confirm a correctly position NGT, contributing to missed medications and enteral nutrition.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Caution should be used when confirming ongoing NGT position with a pH test. Future guidelines should balance the risk of using a displaced tube with potential delays to nutrition and/or medication. More research is needed to explore alternative methods of ongoing NGT position testing.

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