Accessing the evidence to treat the dysphagic patient

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the process by which science, research and evidence are integrated with clinical expertise to guide clinical decision making. Dysphagia is a complex disorder that is becoming an increasingly large part of the speech pathologist's caseload. The scope of practice is expanding to include assessment, direct therapy, education, participation in outcomes measurements, and determining the effectiveness of services provided in accordance with the principles of EBP (ASHA, 2001). It is achieving evidence-based practice that may pose a challenge for the speech pathologist. The purpose of this project was to explore the speech pathologist's exposure to and attitudes towards evidence-based healthcare in the management of patients with dysphagia. Results revealed that the majority of clinicians have access to various sources of evidence, yet less than half of them indicated that they actually have experience with EBP. While over three-quarters of the respondents agreed that research is exciting and has an impact on their clinical practice, just under half felt it was difficult to apply research to practice and that it would be costly in both time and money. This paper provides a discussion of these issues and outlines suggestions for strategies that may assist the profession in ensuring an evidence-based practice

Alternative medicine · Asha · Clinical Practice · Dysphagia · Evidence-based medicine · Evidence-based practice · Health care · Medical education · Pathology · Physical therapy · Political science · Scope of practice · Speech-Language Pathology · Computer Science · Dysphagia Assessment and Management · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Surgery

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• Is there an evidence base to the management of paediatric dysphagia

  Sheena Reilly, Alison Perry•Asia Pacific Journal of Speech…•2001

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