Nursing staff adherence to guidelines on nutritional management for critically ill patients with cancer: A service evaluation.

Background: Critically ill patients with cancer are at high risk of developing malnutrition, negatively affecting their outcome.

Aim: To critically analyse nursing staff's adherence to nutrition management guidelines for critically unwell patients with cancer and identify barriers which prevent this. Two areas of nutrition management were evaluated: early initiation (<48 h from admission) of enteral nutrition (EN) and continuation of EN without interruption.

Study design: A retrospective data analysis was performed on mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to a single cancer centre. Data from electronic patient records (EPR) were collected. Health care professionals' (HCP) documentation was analysed, and a nursing staff focus group (n = 5) was undertaken.

Results: Sixty-four patient records were included. Early EN was not administered in 67% (n = 43) of cases. The reasons for the three longest interruptions to EN feed were as follows: delays in EN tube insertion, gastric residual volumes (GRVs) less than the recommended feed discontinuation threshold and endotracheal intubation. Four main themes relating to barriers to practice were identified from the focus group data analysis: HCPs' approach towards nutrition management, the patient's physiological condition and stability, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) communication and guidance on nutrition management, and practical issues with patient care.

Conclusions: Multi-disciplinary communication difficulties, lack of clear guidelines and inadequate awareness of the importance of nutrition for critically ill patients with cancer were barriers identified preventing optimal nutrition management.

Relevance to clinical practice: Nursing education is fundamental to help break down the barriers to practice which prevent critically ill patients from receiving optimal nutrition management.