Practice Patterns and Attitudes Among Speech –Language Pathologists Treating Stroke Patients with Dysphagia: A Nationwide Survey

AbstractDysphagia management is a core component of quality stroke care. Speech –Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a key role in the management of post-stroke dysphagia. We sought to elicit perceptions, attitudes, and practice patterns regarding post-stroke dysphagia management among SLPs in the United States. We conducted a survey among SLPs registered with the American Spee ch–Language–Hearing Association who indicated that they care for acute stroke patients. A total of 336 participants completed the survey. Over half of the participants (58.6%) indicated that they obtain objective swallow testing in ≥ 60% of their post-stroke dysphagia patients. Almost 1 in 5 SLPs indicated that they are often unable to perform objective dysphagia testing due to limited resources (18.8% indicated resource limitations; 78.9% indicated no resources limitations; 2.4% were unsure). SLPs in hospitals without stroke center certification had higher odds of indicating limited resources compared to SLPs in certified stroke centers (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.11–3.87). Over 75% indicated that percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes after stroke are placed too early. SLPs who obtain objective swallow testing in ≥ 60% of patients had higher odds of indicating that PE G tubes are placed too early (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.13–2.56). While 19.4% indicated that the optimal timing for PEG after stroke is <  7 days after admission, 25.0% indicated that the optimal timing is >  ...
Source: Dysphagia - Category: Speech-Language Pathology Source Type: research