Table 3.

Frequency of implementation of nutritional guidelines or protocols for enteral and parenteral nutrition in Saudi hospitals.

Questions		Never	Rarely	Sometimes	Often	Always	Mean ± SD	Median (IQR)
		(N) %
EN	Q1. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for assessing patient’s nutrient requirements	(2) 1.6	(1) 0.8	(18) 14.6	(25) 20.3	(77) 62.6	4.44 ± 0.838	5 (1)
	Q2. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for enteral nutrition initiation and advancement	(4) 3.3	(3) 2.5	(12) 10.1	(21) 17.7	(78) 66.1	4.43 ± 0.965	5 (1)
	Q3. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for enteral formula selection	(3) 2.8	(3) 2.8	(9) 8.4	(19) 17.9	(72) 67.9	4.49 ± 0.917	5 (1)
	Q4. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for the management of enteral nutrition complications (e.g., aspiration, diarrhoea, etc.)	(3) 2.7	(4) 3.6	(11) 9.9	(17) 15.3	(76) 68.4	4.46 ± 0.951	5 (1)
PN	Q1. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for parenteral nutrition initiation and advancement	(4) 8.6	(2) 4.3	(4) 8.6	(8) 17.3	(28) 60.8	4.29 ± 1,195	5 (1)
	Q2. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for the selection of the type of parenteral nutrition solution (e.g., 3 in 1, 2 in 1 or ready-made bags)	(5) 12.5	(2) 5	(2) 5	(5) 12.5	(26) 65	4.25 ± 1.360	5 (1)
	Q3. Does your hospital (department) implement certain policies and procedures for the management of parenteral nutrition complications (e.g., hyperglycemia, electrolytes imbalances, etc.)	(4) 8.8	(1) 2.2	(4) 8.8	(6) 13.3	(30) 66.6	4.33 ± 1.203	5 (1)

EN, enteral nutrition; PN, parenteral nutrition.

Percentages are based on a total sample size of N = 284.

Participants responded using a five-point Likert scale (Never = 1, Always = 5).