Nursing-Based Guidelines for Caregivers regarding Adult Patients with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

Background: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) may cause complications when the management is inadequate and inappropriate. To avoid these complications, caregivers’ experiences and practices must be considered. Study Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nursing- based guidelines on caregivers’ knowledge and practices regarding adult patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used. The study was conducted in the medical and surgical departments in the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt. Sample: The sample consisted of 30 patients with PEG and their caregivers. A Structured interviewing questionnaire, Self-Administered Structured Questionnaire for caregiver, Caregiver Performance observation checklist, and PEG-specific questionnaire were obtained for data collection Results: The majority of studied patients (86.7%) were suffering from oncologic problems, in post-test and following up, the majority (83.3%) of caregivers had satisfactory level (76.7) (90%) (70%) in knowledge, complication and management of PEG, respectively. During follow up, the majority (73.3%) (90%) of caregivers were well level as regarding nutritional management and care of PEG. There were statistically significant differences between pre/post and follow-up nursing-based guidelines for caregivers’ knowledge and practice regarding patients with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The results show an improvement in the patients outcomes and the level of caregiver coping with the care of PEG and overall Patient satisfaction at (χ2 = 3.844, 4.097) p<0.001 Conclusion: Nursing-based guidelines were helpful in the improvement of the caregiver's knowledge and practice regarding percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. Recommendations Periodic educational training programs regarding PEG were based on the best practice guidelines for caregivers of those patients.