Knowledge of staff members of residential care facilities for individuals with intellectual disability on medication administration via enteral feeding tube

Abstract

This study identified a substantial lack of knowledge of guidelines for drug administration through EFT among staff of RCFs for people with ID. Our findings call for tailored educational programmes in order to increase knowledge on this subject.

ESPEN guideline on home enteral nutrition

“…However, the apparent lack of evidence behind the correct answers to those survey questions has been challenged, including because of a lack of evidence for not mixing medicines before administration through an enteral feeding tube [97]. Another similar survey [98] by the same group, but this time of Belgian residential care facilities for people with intellectual disability, found fewer than 40% of staff knew whether or not medicines may be mixed prior to administration, although the results are not generalizable because fewer than 20% of respondents had a nursing background and the remainder had no medical education. Furthermore, it was found in the same type of facility that recommendations for medicine administration through enteral feeding tubes were not followed [99].…”

Medication management in intellectual disability settings: A systematic review

“…A significant number of sources were located which provided an insight into the medication management protocols that may require written guidelines and/or protocols. The need for such guidelines was stated in a number of sources (Davis, 2016; Gadow and Kane, 1983; Halder et al, 2012; Heslop et al, 2005; Joos et al, 2014, 2015, 2016a, 2016b) with some acknowledging the need for guidelines to take account of the uniqueness of specific situations (Doyle and Cronin, 2017; Joos et al, 2016b) and the complexity of many intellectual disability settings (Branford et al, 1997) with transportation, receipt, storage, delivery and administration of medications often involving many people in many places (Branford et al, 1997). There was also a concern that irrespective of the generic nature of guidelines and protocols, there was also a requirement for person-centred and individualised planning (Davis et al, 2016; Donnelly, 2013; Doyle and Cronin, 2017; Epitropakis and DiPietro, 2015).…”

S3-Leitlinie Heimenterale und heimparenterale Ernährung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin (DGEM)

“…Umgekehrt wurde bemängelt, dass Hinweise zu den richtigen Antworten fehlten, die aufzeigen sollten, dass Arzneimittel bei der Verabreichung über eine enterale Ernährungssonde nicht gemischt werden sollten 504 . Eine ähnliche Umfrage in belgischen Pflegeheimen für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung ergab, dass weniger als 40% der Mitarbeiter wussten, ob Arzneimittel bei der Verabreichung gemischt werden dürfen oder nicht 505 . Die Ergebnisse sind nicht verallgemeinerbar, auch weil weniger als 20% der Befragten eine pflegerische Ausbildung hatten und die anderen keine Gesundheitsausbildung hatten.…”