Researchers tested whether a 2-hour training class could help nurses improve their knowledge about feeding patients who are nearing the end of life. Forty-six nurses from five hospitals in Turkey took the training, which covered how to use feeding tubes and provide proper nutrition to palliative care patients. After one month, the nurses answered significantly more questions correctly about feeding tubes and nutrition care, showing the training was effective. This study suggests that regular education helps nurses stay up-to-date with the best practices for caring for patients in their final stages of life.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a short training class could improve nurses’ knowledge about feeding and nutrition care for patients nearing the end of life
  • Who participated: 46 registered nurses who work in palliative care units (hospitals that care for dying patients) across five public hospitals in northeastern Turkey
  • Key finding: After the 2-hour training, nurses answered significantly more questions correctly about feeding tubes and nutrition care, with improvements ranging from moderate to very large depending on the topic
  • What it means for you: If you have a loved one receiving palliative care, this suggests that trained nurses are more likely to provide better nutrition support. However, this was a small study in one region, so results may not apply everywhere

The Research Details

This was a quasi-experimental study, which means researchers tested whether training made a difference by measuring nurses’ knowledge before and after a training session. The study took place from February to April 2024 and involved 46 nurses from five hospitals. All nurses attended a single 2-hour training class about evidence-based practices for feeding patients in palliative care. The researchers created a test with questions about when to use feeding tubes, how to use them correctly, and what problems might happen. Nurses took this test before the training and again one month later to see if they learned the material.

Understanding whether training actually improves nurses’ knowledge is important because patients depend on nurses to provide safe, effective care. In palliative care—caring for people nearing the end of life—proper nutrition support can affect comfort and quality of life. This study helps show that education works and that hospitals should invest in keeping nurses’ knowledge current.

The study has some limitations to keep in mind: it only included nurses from one region of Turkey, so results might be different in other places. The sample size was relatively small (46 nurses), and there was no comparison group of nurses who didn’t receive training. The study measured knowledge improvement one month after training, but didn’t check if nurses actually changed their daily practices or if patients benefited. These factors mean the results should be viewed as promising but not definitive proof.

What the Results Show

After the training, nurses showed major improvements in their knowledge about feeding tubes and nutrition care. Specifically, they answered more questions correctly about when feeding tubes should be used (with very large improvements on some questions), how to properly use feeding tubes (with very large improvements), and how to apply enteral nutrition correctly (with large improvements). The improvements were measured using a statistical method that shows not just whether answers improved, but how much they improved—and most showed large or very large improvements. These results suggest the training was effective at teaching nurses important information they need to know.

Nurses also improved their knowledge about potential complications (problems) that can happen with feeding tubes and nutrition support, though these improvements were smaller than for other topics. Interestingly, their knowledge about complications related to nutrition solutions didn’t improve as much, suggesting this might be an area where the training could be strengthened or where nurses need additional resources.

While the abstract doesn’t directly compare to other studies, the finding that short training sessions can improve nurse knowledge aligns with general research showing that education helps healthcare workers stay current. This study adds to evidence that even brief training (2 hours) can have meaningful effects on what nurses know, though longer or repeated training might produce even better results.

This study has several important limitations: it only measured what nurses knew (their test scores), not whether they actually changed how they care for patients in real situations. There was no control group of nurses who didn’t receive training to compare against. The study only followed nurses for one month after training, so we don’t know if the improvements lasted longer. The sample included only 46 nurses from one region of Turkey, so results might be different in other countries or healthcare systems. Finally, the study design (measuring the same group before and after) is weaker than designs that compare trained and untrained groups.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, palliative care units should consider providing regular training on evidence-based enteral nutrition practices to their nursing staff. A 2-hour training session appears to meaningfully improve nurses’ knowledge. However, hospitals should also consider follow-up training or refresher courses, since knowledge can fade over time. This recommendation has moderate confidence due to the study’s limitations.

Hospital administrators and nursing leaders in palliative care units should care about this research, as it supports investing in staff education. Nurses working in palliative care may find this useful for identifying knowledge gaps. Patients and families with loved ones in palliative care might appreciate knowing that training programs can improve nurse knowledge. This research is less relevant for people in other healthcare settings or for the general public.

Based on this study, nurses showed improved knowledge within one month of training. However, the study didn’t measure how long improvements lasted, so it’s unclear whether knowledge stays strong after several months or requires refresher training. Realistically, healthcare workers may need periodic updates to maintain their knowledge over time.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you’re a nurse or healthcare worker, track your completion of continuing education courses on enteral nutrition and palliative care, noting the date and topic. You could also track your confidence level (1-10 scale) in managing feeding tubes and nutrition support before and after training to see if education improves your confidence.
  • For healthcare workers: commit to completing one evidence-based training session on enteral nutrition practices every 12 months. For patients/families: ask your palliative care team about their training and education on nutrition support—this conversation can help ensure your loved one receives well-informed care.
  • Healthcare facilities could monitor the effectiveness of training by periodically testing staff knowledge (similar to this study), tracking patient outcomes related to nutrition support, and gathering feedback from nurses about whether training translates to better patient care. Individual nurses might keep a learning journal documenting new knowledge and how they apply it in practice.

This research describes a training program’s effect on nurses’ knowledge about feeding and nutrition care for palliative care patients. The findings are promising but come from a small study in one region of Turkey. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical advice. If you or a loved one is receiving palliative care, discuss nutrition and feeding options with your healthcare team, as individual needs vary. Healthcare facilities should consult with their own experts before implementing training programs based on this research.