Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Satisfaction and Perspectives on Continuous Enteral Feeding Pumps: A Cross-Sectional Study in an Indian Trauma Centre

Abstract

Background: Trauma patients often experience significant nutrient deficits during critical care due to frequent interruptions in enteral
nutrition. Continuous enteral feeding using automated pumps enhances delivery precision and reduces workload; however, its adoption in Indian intensive care units (ICUs) remains limited due to infrastructural and training constraints. Nurses’ satisfaction and perspectives are crucial for the successful implementation of such technology in resource-limited settings. The study aims to assess ICU nurses’ satisfaction and perspectives on continuous enteral feeding pumps and to identify perceived challenges and recommendations for clinical integration in an Indian tertiary trauma center.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 154 ICU nurses at a tertiary trauma care center between April and September 2022. Data were collected using a validated Nurses’ Satisfaction Questionnaire with Feeding Pumps. Descriptive statistics were applied using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.

Results: Among 154 respondents (mean clinical experience: 6 years), 85.07% agreed that continuous enteral feeding enhanced nutrient delivery, and 91.56% reported reduced administration time. Overall satisfaction with pump-assisted feeding was high, 4.47 ± 0.75, with strong confidence in accuracy, 4.57 ± 0.61. However, alarm fatigue and misconnection risks were identified as operational concerns. Two-thirds, 64.94% of nurses recommended routine pump use for all critically ill patients, while 35.06% supported selective application based on tolerance and clinical stability.

Conclusion: ICU nurses perceived continuous enteral feeding pumps as beneficial, efficient, and reliable, though operational issues require attention. Targeted training, technical support, and infrastructure strengthening are essential for widespread adoption in Indian ICUs.