Analysis of medications administered through tubes at an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to analyze the use of medications administered though tubes to inpatients of the adult and neonatal intensive care units of a teaching hospital. This descriptive, exploratory, quantitative study was performed in March of 2011 based on prescriptions from the respective units, focused on the recommendations of the use of those medications through a tube. Information was collected and analyzed using Epi Info 3.5.2. A total of 572 prescriptions were analyzed, adding up to 5,283 medications. Among oral medications, most (88.8%) were prescribed to be administered through a tube; and 11 were of restricted use. The high frequency of prescriptions for medications administered through tubes, associated with the different types of restrictions that make their use by this mean unfeasible, gives evidence of the need to implement continuing education programs, and to create educational handbooks seeking to improve the knowledge of the professionals involved.

Descriptors: Drug Administration Routes; Drug Prescriptions; Intensive Care Units; Enteral Nutrition.