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. 2025 Feb 10;24(1):155.
doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-02755-0.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses regarding enteral feeding: a systematic review

Akbar Zare-Kaseb  1 , Sogand Sarmadi  2 , Amir Mohamad Nazari  3 , Arman Ryahin  4 , Amir Emami Zeydi  5
Affiliations

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses regarding enteral feeding: a systematic review

Akbar Zare-Kaseb et al. BMC Nurs. .

Abstract

Background: Enteral feeding uses feeding tubes for liquid food administration. Enteral feeding maintains gastrointestinal function but has complications like aspiration, diarrhea, and constipation. To avoid complications, nurses in intensive care units must have proper knowledge, attitude, and practice towards enteral feeding.

Method: A systematic review was conducted. The search was restricted to January 2000 to April 2024, encompassing scientific journals accessible via the following online databases: PubMed (including Medline), Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Google Scholar was searched comprehensively to include all relevant studies. The search strategy employed the following keywords and medical subject headings: [knowledge OR attitude] AND [enteral feeding OR enteral nutrition] AND nurs*. Only cross-sectional studies were included in this systematic review. Two authors independently conducted the selection of eligible studies, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Due to the discrepancies in methodologies and research goals among the investigated studies, a narrative synthesis was conducted.

Results: In total, there were 3187 articles found in the initial search across five online electronic databases. Finally, a thorough review was conducted, incorporating 22 studies. Based on the studies analyzed in this systematic review, nurses showed a positive attitude toward enteral feeding; there was a necessity to enhance their knowledge and practice. Continuous education combined with interdisciplinary collaboration can significantly improve nurses' knowledge and practice of enteral feeding.

Conclusion: Many studies highlight the necessity of enhancing the knowledge and practice of nurses in this area. Implementing educational interventions has positively impacted nurses' knowledge and performance.

Keywords: Attitude; Enteral Feeding; Enteral Nutrition; Knowledge; Nurse; Practice.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable because systematic review studies do not receive any information directly from participants. Consent for publication: Not Applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow chart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The items that were generally investigated by the included studies to investigate the knowledge of nurses regarding EF
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The items that were generally investigated by the included studies to investigate the attitude of nurses regarding EF
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The items that were generally investigated by the included studies to investigate the practice of nurses regarding EF
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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