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Clinical decision‐making for complex feeding decisions: A national survey of current approaches and perspectives
Author(s) -
Schwarz Maria,
Coccetti Anne,
Cardell Elizabeth
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12708
Subject(s) - documentation , dysphagia , dementia , exploratory research , consistency (knowledge bases) , palliative care , medicine , psychology , nursing , medical education , geometry , surgery , disease , mathematics , pathology , sociology , computer science , anthropology , programming language
Abstract Objectives Decision‐making around dysphagia management is becoming increasingly challenging due to the complexity of contexts associated with an ageing population. The current study explores current decision‐making practices used by speech language therapists (SLTs) surrounding contexts related to palliative care, dementia, neuro‐degenerative diseases, guardianship/family decisions, and other issues relevant to ongoing care of individuals with dysphagia. Methods An exploratory prospective electronic survey of SLTs was conducted. A total of 202 respondents were eligible for inclusion. Results Only 55% of respondents reported their workplace had a standard approach to documentation. Only 19% reported their service had a defined policy to support decision‐making, with only 28% reporting the existence of patient information brochures. Conclusion Limited formal guidance or practice standards exist in the setting of complex dysphagia management, which limits the consistency of practice and clinical efficiency. This insight into current practices and perspectives supports the development of clinical guidelines.