Identification & Care of Swallowing Difficulties

Overview

Dysphagia is a frequent complication after acute stroke. Published studies have shown that up to 50% of conscious acute stroke patients are found to have swallowing problems, less than half of whom have feeding precautions taken. (Smithard et al 1997)

As the importance of dysphagia management in reducing complications and consequently length of stay (Ellul et al 1997) has been increasingly recognised, and with a faster rate of throughput in the acute sector, referrals to speech and language therapists (SALT’s) have risen exponentially (Ellul et al 94, White et al 93).

Many organisations have developed programmes to improve collaborative working between SLTs and nurses. The aim of these schemes has been to reinforce and extend the role of nurses and other healthcare professionals in screening and managing routine cases.

By enabling non-specialist staff to screen and manage the more persistent dysphagia cases, practitioners with higher dysphagia management competence can be used in a more consultative role for the more complex and long-term cases (Davies2002). There is currently, however, no national guidance on developing these programmes, nor on the roles, responsibilities and competencies of the respective professions, leading to considerable variation of practice across the UK.

Development of a competency-based inter-professional consensus on the identification and management of swallowing difficulties, with essential support mechanisms in situ, would facilitate interdisciplinary working and avail the patient of 24 hour monitoring of their swallow function which together with appropriate management would improve the nutritional and psychological status of the patient and thereby facilitate their engagement with the rehabilitation process.

Project Leads

Caroline Watkins Jane Williams (Portsmouth) Sue Pownall (Sheffield) Clare Fuller (Wales) Mary Heritage (Derby)

Funders

Department of Health, National Patient’s Safety Agency, National Stroke Nursing Forum, NHS Modernisation Agency Changing Workforce Programme, North and East Yorkshire Workforce Development Confederation, North Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire Workforce Development Confederation.

Start Date

September 2003

Public Output

Boaden E.E., Davies S.R., Storey L. and Watkins C.L; 2006; Inter-professional Dysphagia Framework on behalf of the National Dysphagia Competence Steering Group.

Research question

Research Objective(s) To develop a framework of competences for practitioners involved in the identification and management of patients with swallowing difficulties. This framework will inform strategies for developing the skills, knowledge and ability of healthcare professionals in the identification and management of swallowing difficulties.

Method

Plan of Investigation Literature review relating to the identification and management of swallowing difficulties.

0

Stakeholder interviews scoping existing mechanisms, models of care, clinical and research knowledge, education, training, providers of training and education and characteristics and issues relevant to non-, pre- and post-registered staff. Information will be utilised to construct a survey instrument for exploring issues further and quantification of issues and requirements.

The Identification and Management of Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia)