الملخص الإنجليزي
Background: Nutrition understanding in general and enteral nutrition knowledge in specific among health care professionals are important features that are needed to provide optimal medical care for the patient. The degree of knowledge, interest and training in enteral nutrition (EN) differs considerably among health care workers. These variations can lead to important differences in the management of the enteral feedings given to patients. Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the level of general and enteral nutrition knowledge among health care workers in the Royal hospital in Muscat as a tertiary referred hospital, and to assess the current enteral feeding practices and perceptions of responsibility and knowledge among health care workers in Oman. Consequently, proper recommendations are to be proposed. Method: A pre-tested, descriptive survey-based design was used to assess the level of general and EN knowledge among 927 health care workers (330 doctor, 593 nurse and 4 dieticians) at the Royal Hospital, Muscat, where only 341 of them responded (36.7%). Participants completed an 89-item questionnaire divided into 6 sections. The questionnaire addressed two areas: general nutrition awareness, and enteral nutrition knowledge including education, screening, monitoring, and planning. In addition, it included questions about barriers against nutrition therapy, sources of knowledge regarding enteral nutrition and enteral feeding practice. Results: The overall mean percentage for correctly answered questions in assessing general nutrition knowledge was 46.87%. Knowledge of health care professionals in screening, assessment, and treatment was inadequate. Many health care workers believed that they are greatly involved in the nutritional assessment, planning and implementation of intervention in their daily work. The involvement of dieticians and nutritionists in the decision-making process regarding the choice of enteral formulation was underestimated by the respondents (44.6%). However, the implementation of screening and assessment of enteral nutrition for patients in the hospital were considered by participants as successful. The main sources of nutrition knowledge were nursing/medical schools (68.32%), internet (69.20%), and the scientific journals (70,38%) with mean scores of 3.06+1.27, 2.92+1.30, and 2.87+1.19, respectively, out of 5. Enteral feeding practice is not fulfilled by following the enteral feeding protocol which is provided by the hospital, and that health care workers practice varied notably. Lack of knowledge, lack of interest, and lack of defined responsibilities were the main three barriers against appropriate nutrition therapy, being 72.43, 71.55, and 70.96%, respectively. Conclusion: Findings of the present study suggested that nutrition knowledge of health care professionals at Royal Hospital, Muscat, mainly for screening, assessment and treatment are inadequate. However, many health care workers believed that they are greatly involved in the nutritional assessment, planning and implementation of intervention in their daily work. In addition, enteral feeding practice is not fulfilled by following the enteral feeding protocol provided by the hospital, and that health care workers practice varied notably. The development and implementation of continuous nutrition education programs are recommended.
