Dysphagia Management for People with Intellectual Disabilities: Practitioner Identified Processes, Barriers and Solutions

摘要

Background: Dysphagia is a significant problem for adults with intellectual disabilities\udwhich has received sparse attention in the research literature. Little is currently\uddocumented about how dysphagia management operates and the barriers and\udassociated strategies to address barriers utilised in practice.\udMethod: A brief survey containing open ended questions was completed by 38\udpractitioners about the way their service operates, the barriers they have faced in\udproviding support around managing dysphagia and the solutions and strategies they\udhave found useful.\udResults & Conclusions: The process of dysphagia management typically involved\udreferral and assessment, development of an intervention strategy, communication and\udnegotiation, education and training in safe dysphagia management and monitoring,\udevaluation and re-assessment. Barriers were numerous but stakeholder beliefs,\udknowledge and feelings underpinned many of them. Solutions varied but similarly were\udunderpinned by good communication, building relationships, person centred practice\udand responsivity, pragmatism and innovation in training and disseminating dysphagia\udmanagement information