Graduation Semester and Year
Fall 2026
Language
English
Document Type
DNP Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Cathy Brown
Abstract
Introduction: In the United States, gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement is among the most common surgical procedures for medically complex children with feeding difficulties (Erlick et al., 2024). Postoperative G-tube complications account for 80% of these visits (Maselli et al., 2021), increasing ED use and straining the healthcare system. The aim is to reduce G-tube related ED visits among patients with established G-tubes.
Methods: A quality improvement project using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework evaluated the impact of a standardized G-tube caregiver education bundle. Outcomes included caregiver preparedness and comfort scores and G-tube related ED visits. Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (PCS) and Caregiver Comfort Assessment (CCA) measured pre- and post-intervention outcomes.
Results: After implementing the standardized G-tube education bundle, caregiver preparedness and comfort improved significantly. Mean PCS and CCA scores increased, while G-tube related ED visits decreased from 11.7% to 9.1%. These findings suggest that caregivers felt more confident managing G-tube care and related concerns at home.
Discussion: The standardized G-tube education bundle improved caregiver preparedness and comfort with G-tube management. The intervention was implemented and will continue as part of routine clinical practice. Future evaluation with a larger population may provide additional insight into its impact on ED utilization and patient outcomes.
Keywords
Pediatric, Child, Infant, Adolescent, Gastrostomy tube, G-tube, Emergency department, Education, Quality improvement, Nurse practitioner, and Healthcare utilization
Disciplines
Other Education | Pediatric Nursing
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Camacho, Linda, "Reducing Emergency Department Visits in Pediatric Patients with Gastrostomy Tubes" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects. 40.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/nursing_dnpprojects2/40