Enhancing patient outcomes in home enteral nutrition through checklist-based discharge education

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of checklist-guided discharge education in reducing post-discharge complications and emergency department visits among patients receiving home enteral nutrition (HEN), and assessed its impact on caregiver competence and patient safety. Methods: A prospective, quasi-experimental, pre-post test controlled study was conducted between November 2024 and July 2025 with 52 HEN patients and their caregivers. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group, which received structured, hands-on training using the Home Enteral Nutrition Caregiver Task Checklist, or a control group that followed routine discharge procedures. Demographic and clinical data, feeding methods, complications, and emergency department visits were tracked over three months. Results: Baseline demographics and comorbidities were comparable between groups. The intervention group showed significantly fewer mechanical complications, including tube obstruction, dislodgement, and replacement (p