The development of a feeding, swallowing and oral care program using the PRECEDE-PROCEED model in an...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pediatric Care
• Global Health Initiatives

Background:

• Children with medical complexities and special needs often require specialized feeding and oral care.
• Medical staff in resource-limited settings may lack targeted training in managing these complex needs.
• International academic service-learning offers a framework for sustainable capacity building.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a long-term international academic service-learning (I-ASL) intervention.
• To enhance the swallowing, feeding, and oral care techniques of medical staff.
• To improve care for medically complex children with special needs in a Guatemalan orphanage.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the PRECEDE-PROCEED model for program framework and evaluation.
• Focused on five key areas: knowledge, skills, equipment, technique, positioning, and communication.
• Delivered a five-day intervention including verbal instruction, modeling, and small group training.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated statistically significant improvements in staff knowledge regarding feeding and oral care.
• Showcased significant increases in the application of appropriate feeding and oral care techniques.
• Observed enhanced skills in positioning and communication related to patient care.

Conclusions:

• The I-ASL intervention successfully enhanced the skills and knowledge of medical staff.
• The program fostered a strong, collaborative relationship between the I-ASL team and the host organization.
• This model demonstrates potential for improving care for vulnerable pediatric populations globally.