Factors Associated with Nurses’ Intention to Apply Current Guidelines for Medication Administration through Feeding Tube: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Introduction: Administering medication through a feeding tube is difficult. To avoid tube obstruction, ensure therapeutic effectiveness, and decrease drug toxicity, protocols for delivering medication through a feeding tube must be followed. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the intention (INT) of nurses to apply the current guidelines for medications administered through feeding tubes.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a paper-based survey was conducted among nurses working at the state hospital who have experience in administering medication to patients using feeding tubes. A valid and reliable Turkish scale based on the theory of planned behavior was used to identify factors associated with the INT score by a multiple linear regression model.
Results: One hundred and forty-nine participants (response rate: 80.0%) completed a paper-based survey. Although 85.2% of the participants reported administering medications according to the guidelines, only 34.9%, 22.8%, and 33.6%, respectively, knew that modified-release tablets, enteric-coated tablets, and film-coated tablets should not be crushed. Among participants, 42.2% had not previously received training on administering medication through a tube. The higher scores of attitudes, past behavior (PB), and subjective norm (SN) were associated with higher INT scores.
Discussion and Conclusion: Positive attitudes, positive PB, and positive SNs were associated with nurses’ INTs to apply the current guidelines for medications administered through feeding tubes. These factors should be considered when developing interventions to promote the application of the current guidelines. Sustained collaboration among healthcare providers will promote appropriate drug utilization and improve patient care in hospital settings.

Keywords: Current guidelines; Enteral feeding tubes; Nurse; Theory of planned behavior