ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE REGARDING NASOGASTRIC TUBE PLACEMENT AMONG NURSES WORKING IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Nasogastric (NG) tube insertion is a routine yet critical nursing procedure, widely used for providing nutrition, administering medication, and decompressing the stomach in patients who are unable to eat orally. Nevertheless, if not inserted properly, it may cause severe complications, which include aspiration pneumonia, respiratory distress, or death.

OBJECTIVE:

This study was conducted to evaluate nurses' knowledge and practices related to NG tube insertion in a pediatric tertiary care setting in Lahore, Pakistan.

METHODOLOGY:

The study was conducted during a period of six months at the Children's Hospital, Lahore, using a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Using a simple random sampling method, data were collected from 268 registered nurses who met the inclusion criteria. In order to measure the presence of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, a structured questionnaire and an integrated checklist based on the validated instruments were adopted. The data was being analyzed through descriptive statistical methods in SPSS 26.

RESULTS:

Findings showed that while most nurses (84.7%) were aware of general guidelines and 87% could identify clinical indications for NG tube insertion, only 63% recognized contraindications, and 25% lacked awareness of possible complications. Practical implementation also revealed shortcomings—only 23.9% confirmed tube placement using recommended techniques such as aspiration or pH testing. Additionally, over half of the participants (58.6%) had never received formal training in NG tube placement.

CONCLUSION:

The study highlights a clear disconnect between knowledge and practice, pointing to the urgent need for structured and evidence-based training. Regular skill-building sessions, simulation-based learning, and reinforcement of standardized protocols are essential to ensure safe and effective NG tube management, particularly in pediatric care, where precision is vital to patient outcomes