Exploring Dysphagia Assessment and Management in Canadian Primary Care: A Clinical Practice Survey

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) affects up to 35% of community-dwelling older adults, leading to malnutrition, pneumonia, and hospitalizations.
• Effective dysphagia assessment and management are critical for maintaining health and independence in older populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate current dysphagia assessment and management practices among registered dietitians (RDs), speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and occupational therapists (OTs) in Canadian primary care.
• To identify gaps and opportunities for optimizing dysphagia patient care within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• A 22-question online practice survey was distributed to RDs, SLPs, and OTs recruited via professional associations and practice groups.
• 126 professionals completed the survey, providing data on their assessment and management approaches for adult dysphagia.

Main Results:

• Clinical swallowing evaluations and mealtime observations were the primary assessment methods for RDs (92%), SLPs (83%), and OTs (50%).
• Top management strategies included patient education, oral care, and diet modifications.
• Key challenges identified were patient adherence to strategies and limited personnel for dysphagia assessment and management.

Conclusions:

• Inter-professional collaboration, enhanced patient/caregiver resources, and professional training are highly valued for improving dysphagia care.
• Addressing challenges in patient adherence and staffing is crucial for timely and effective dysphagia management in primary care.
• Optimizing care pathways can significantly improve outcomes for community-living individuals with dysphagia.