PD220 - CLINICAL PHARMACIST-LED EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE CAREGIVERS' ADHERENCE TO ESPEN GUIDELINES FOR MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION VIA ENTERAL FEEDING TUBE IN PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE
PD220
CLINICAL PHARMACIST-LED EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION TO IMPROVE CAREGIVERS' ADHERENCE TO ESPEN GUIDELINES FOR MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION VIA ENTERAL FEEDING TUBE IN PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE
K. Tecen1,*, Ö. Geridönmez1
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Anadolu University Faculty of Pharmacy, Eskişehir, Türkiye
Rationale: Administering medication via enteral feeding tubes is a prevalent practice in hospital settings, especially among palliative care patients (1). This study aimed to assess the knowledge of caregivers who provide care to palliative patients about enteral medication administration and to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention conducted by a clinical pharmacist on these caregivers' adherence to ESPEN guidelines.
Methods: A pre/post-interventional study was performed. The enhancement of caregivers' knowledge concerning medication administration via an enteral feeding tube was evaluated using a uniform survey. The survey questions were prepared based on the information regarding the administration of medication through enteral feeding tubes as outlined in the ESPEN guidelines.
Results: 89 caregivers were included in the study. Before the educational intervention, 15.7% of caregivers (n=14) administered medication via enteral feeding tube in accordance with ESPEN guidelines, while after the educational intervention, 93.3% (n=83) were found to be adherent to the guidelines (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Inaccurate medicine preparation and administration for patients with feeding tubes might adversely impact patient outcomes. The understanding of caregivers who attend to palliative patients can be substantially enhanced with an educational intervention. The engagement of clinical pharmacists and the collaboration of pharmacists, physicians, and nurses is strongly advocated in this clinical environment.
References: 1-Hossaini Alhashemi S, Ghorbani R, Vazin A (2019). Improving knowledge, attitudes, and practice of nurses in medication administration through enteral feeding tubes by clinical pharmacists: a case-control study. Adv Med Educ Pract.10:493-500.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared