Self-insertion of naso-gastric tube: An alternative to gastrostomy or to the indwelling tube. Rules and Education Therapeutic Program

Self-administration of naso-gastric tube is an alternative to gastrostomy or to the indwelling tube. The conditions under which this act is done must be strictly defined. Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) program enables patients to acquire skills and to perform this action without fear. Respect for contraindications and the monitoring should permit self-administration of naso-gastric tube in the safest conditions. The tube must be used without guide because of the increased risk of complications. The TPE program is not simple patient information. It is based on an educational diagnosis that helps to remove potential brakes (anxiety, fear...) and to assess cognitive abilities. The type program but individualized includes a step of administration by the nurse with descriptions of the phases, secondly, a self-administration, stage during which the actions are described by the nurse and lastly by the self-administration. The final assessment of skills is essential. The self-administration is a self-care that has all the characteristics of an act within a TPE program. The self-administration of naso-gastric tube contributes to maintain independence and quality of life of patients needing tube feeding. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.