Early detection of swallowing problems in patients with neurological conditions

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) is a significant problem for up to 65% of patients suffering from neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Parkinson’s disease. Undetected swallowing problems can lead to aspiration, pneumonia, poor nutrition, dehydration, increased length of hospital stay, hospital readmissions and increased mortality. Screening of patients at risk of swallowing problems by nurses is not generally common practice, although recent evidence suggests that the practice is beneficial in terms of improving early detection of problems, early referral for specialist assessment and appropriate oral intake to prevent complications. In this study, a new tool for nurses’ screening for swallowing difficulties was trialled and a learner-centred education program undertaken to promote nurses’ early detection of swallowing problems. This project aimed to implement and evaluate a program for improving nurses' screening of those at risk of swallowing problems. Specifically the aims were to: - Implement an evidence-based screening tool for detecting swallowing problems by nurses; - Improve nurses’ early detection of possible swallowing problems; and - Increase nurses’ knowledge and skills in screening for risk factors for swallowing problems. A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent pretest–posttest control group design was used to determine the difference between the baseline and post-test data on: - Number of patients with neurological conditions screened for swallowing problems; - Number of patients referred for further assessment; - Number of patients who received further dysphagia assessment; and - Nurses’ knowledge in screening for risk factors for swallowing problems