South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia
Background: Studies related to tube feeding in people with dementia (PWD) remain a contested topic, neglecting the importance of speech-language therapists’ (SLTs) role in dysphagia management. Furthermore, SLT practices and beliefs regarding tube feeding in people with advanced dementia in an upper...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | South African Journal of Communication Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/927 |
| _version_ | 1797979350113452032 |
|---|---|
| author | Mariaan Cloete Esedra Krüger Jeannie van der Linde Marien A. Graham Sarveshvari B. Pillay |
| author_facet | Mariaan Cloete Esedra Krüger Jeannie van der Linde Marien A. Graham Sarveshvari B. Pillay |
| author_sort | Mariaan Cloete |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Studies related to tube feeding in people with dementia (PWD) remain a contested topic, neglecting the importance of speech-language therapists’ (SLTs) role in dysphagia management. Furthermore, SLT practices and beliefs regarding tube feeding in people with advanced dementia in an upper-middle-income country, such as South Africa, are unexplored.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the practices and beliefs of SLTs in South Africa regarding tube feeding placement in PWD.
Method: A self-compiled online survey was distributed using social media platforms and was completed by 83 South African SLTs with experience in swallowing and feeding management of PWD.
Results: Most SLTs (78.8%) strongly believed they play a vital role in the decision-making regarding feeding tube insertion in PWD. This role is often met with several challenges, such as limited support from other healthcare professionals. Speech-language therapists with more experience and increased involvement in palliative care appeared to be more confident in supporting and counselling families of PWD on tube feeding. Many SLTs still recommend tube feeding despite its known negative consequences for PWD.
Conclusion: The findings indicate a need for continued professional development for South African SLTs on feeding decisions in advanced dementia to increase knowledge and confidence in clinical practice. Speech-language therapists require guidelines by professional bodies and further dialogue amongst healthcare professionals to guide difficult feeding decisions in people with advanced dementia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f73551e22d484c40b132ecb1cd2818d3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0379-8046 2225-4765 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:38:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Communication Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-f73551e22d484c40b132ecb1cd2818d32022-12-22T10:23:00ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Communication Disorders0379-80462225-47652022-12-01691e1e1010.4102/sajcd.v69i1.927689South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementiaMariaan Cloete0Esedra Krüger1Jeannie van der Linde2Marien A. Graham3Sarveshvari B. Pillay4Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, PretoriaDepartment of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pretoria, PretoriaBackground: Studies related to tube feeding in people with dementia (PWD) remain a contested topic, neglecting the importance of speech-language therapists’ (SLTs) role in dysphagia management. Furthermore, SLT practices and beliefs regarding tube feeding in people with advanced dementia in an upper-middle-income country, such as South Africa, are unexplored. Objective: This study aimed to determine the practices and beliefs of SLTs in South Africa regarding tube feeding placement in PWD. Method: A self-compiled online survey was distributed using social media platforms and was completed by 83 South African SLTs with experience in swallowing and feeding management of PWD. Results: Most SLTs (78.8%) strongly believed they play a vital role in the decision-making regarding feeding tube insertion in PWD. This role is often met with several challenges, such as limited support from other healthcare professionals. Speech-language therapists with more experience and increased involvement in palliative care appeared to be more confident in supporting and counselling families of PWD on tube feeding. Many SLTs still recommend tube feeding despite its known negative consequences for PWD. Conclusion: The findings indicate a need for continued professional development for South African SLTs on feeding decisions in advanced dementia to increase knowledge and confidence in clinical practice. Speech-language therapists require guidelines by professional bodies and further dialogue amongst healthcare professionals to guide difficult feeding decisions in people with advanced dementia.https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/927tube feedingadvanced dementiaspeech-language therapistsdysphagiabeliefspracticessouth africaelectronic survey |
| spellingShingle | Mariaan Cloete Esedra Krüger Jeannie van der Linde Marien A. Graham Sarveshvari B. Pillay South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia South African Journal of Communication Disorders tube feeding advanced dementia speech-language therapists dysphagia beliefs practices south africa electronic survey |
| title | South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia |
| title_full | South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia |
| title_fullStr | South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia |
| title_full_unstemmed | South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia |
| title_short | South African speech-language therapists’ practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia |
| title_sort | south african speech language therapists practices regarding feeding tube placement in people with advanced dementia |
| topic | tube feeding advanced dementia speech-language therapists dysphagia beliefs practices south africa electronic survey |
| url | https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/927 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariaancloete southafricanspeechlanguagetherapistspracticesregardingfeedingtubeplacementinpeoplewithadvanceddementia AT esedrakruger southafricanspeechlanguagetherapistspracticesregardingfeedingtubeplacementinpeoplewithadvanceddementia AT jeannievanderlinde southafricanspeechlanguagetherapistspracticesregardingfeedingtubeplacementinpeoplewithadvanceddementia AT marienagraham southafricanspeechlanguagetherapistspracticesregardingfeedingtubeplacementinpeoplewithadvanceddementia AT sarveshvaribpillay southafricanspeechlanguagetherapistspracticesregardingfeedingtubeplacementinpeoplewithadvanceddementia |