Knowledge Attitude and Practice of Nutritional Management of Acute Pancreatitis among General Surgery Residents of Tertiary Care Hospital

Nutritional management is a critical component in the treatment of acute pancreatitis, yet its integration into clinical practice among surgical residents remains suboptimal. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of general surgery residents regarding nutritional management in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 general surgery residents at the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, Narowal. Residents with a minimum of six months of clinical experience who provided informed consent were included. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire comprising three sections: knowledge (multiple-choice questions assessing evidence-based nutritional practices), attitude (Likert scale responses on perceptions and confidence in nutritional management), and practice (self-reported adherence to guidelines and barriers faced). Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, while inferential analysis assessed correlations, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 72.3% ± 12.4%, 80.7% ± 10.2%, and 68.5% ± 15.3%, respectively. While most residents acknowledged the importance of early enteral nutrition (84.9%), only 36.8% adhered to evidence-based guidelines in practice. Significant barriers included resource limitations (64.2%) and inadequate training (52.8%). A positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude scores (r=0.48, p<0.01). Conclusions: It was concluded that this study highlights discrepancies between knowledge, attitude, and practice in the nutritional management of acute pancreatitis. Despite healthcare providers demonstrating positive attitudes, adherence to evidence-based guidelines remain suboptimal due to resource limitations and insufficient training. Implementing targeted education and structured training programs can enhance compliance with best practices and improve patient outcomes