Authors: Maria Schwarz, Elizabeth C Ward, Petrea Cornwell, Anne Coccetti
In this article, authors assessed barriers and facilitators of a dysphagia screening program implemented by Allied Health Assistants (AHAs) in Australia. Four AHAs and 4 speech language therapists from 3 different facilities participated in this study by participating in semi-structured interviews about the implementation process. Overall, researchers found that there was differential implementation across facilities. Major factors which influenced implementation were found to be training and implementation resources, along with the program design and quality. Implementation barriers included program adaptability and cohesion with existing programs. The results of this study suggest that an AHA-led dysphagia screening program may be feasible. However, it is essential to consider the workflow and service priorities at each health facility before implementation.
Link: Dysphagia screening using an allied health assistant delegation model: service considerations for implementation
Resource Topic: AHA, Dysphagia, Prevention, Screening, Speech language
Resource Type: Research
Year: 2022
Region: Oceania
Country: Australia
Publisher May Restrict Access: No