Adult Swallowing: Normal and Disordered

5510V - View of Allied Health Professionals on their Training of Direct Support Workers in Mealtime Assistance

ON-DEMAND

Format: Technical Research (Virtual)

Audience: Students, International Affiliates, Public/Consumers, Researchers, Related Professionals, Assistants, Early Career Professionals (under 5 years)

Keywords: Dysphagia, Mealtime training, Disability, Allied health professionals, Interdisciplinary

Presenting Author(s)

Bronwyn Hemsley

The University of Newcastle

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Author Only (Not Presenting)(s)

Courtney Reddacliff

The University of Technology Sydney
Sayne Dalton

Dietitians Australia
Amy Fitzpatrick

Speech Pathology Australia
Sarah Jones

OT Australia

Aim: To determine how allied health professionals are currently providing to mealtime management training, to which stakeholders, the methods used, and topics covered.

Methods: An online survey with descriptive and content analysis asked about the nature and content of any training delivered. A descriptive and content analysis of responses was completed.

Results: In total, 52 speech-language pathologists (SLPs), 28 dietitians, and 63 occupational therapists completed the survey. Results are presented relating to their inclusion of information about swallowing disorders, nutrition, and mealtime assistance.

Conclusions: Speech-language pathologists, dietitians and occupational therapists are actively engaged in providing mealtime management training in the field of disability. Implications for SLPs will be discussed, particularly in relation to the implementation of training for support workers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain the roles of allied health professionals in training direct support workers in mealtime management for people with disability and dysphagia
Apply information about dysphagia training to their own practice as allied health professionals.
Choose a range of strategies to increase their involvement in building capacity in the workforce supporting adults with disability and dysphagia