Diarrhea in the critical patient: knowledge and conduct of professionals in intensive care units

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge and conduct of health care professionals regarding diarrhea in patients receiving enteral nutrition. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with health care professionals from two adult Intensive Care Units. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: 37 professionals participated in the study, being 17 (45.9%) nursing assistants or technicians, 8 (21.6%) nurses, 8 (21.6%) physicians, 3 (8.1%) nutritionists, and 1 (2.8%) omitted profession. The most common definition found for diarrhea was "3 or more liquid or semi-liquid stools/day." The main causes cited for diarrhea were "infection" and "diet." The most commonly observed attitude/conduct was "reporting to the team." The majority (16; 43.2%) witness diets interrupted very often because of diarrhea and "diet adjustment" and "training of the multiprofessional team" were the most cited solutions to prevent this interruption. The majority (20; 54%) of the professionals did not participate in any training on diarrhea, and 33 professionals (about 90%) consider the implementation of a protocol important.  CONCLUSION: there are divergences among health professionals, both in their knowledge and conducts when dealing with patients with diarrhea in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which can directly influence care. The training of the multiprofessional team and the creation of a protocol are essential.