ERIC Number: EJ1449147
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Nov
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1368-2822
EISSN: EISSN-1460-6984
Available Date: N/A
A Survey of Dysphagia Services Practice in China
Yi Li; Qiongshuai Zhang; Jing Zeng; Liugen Wang
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, v59 n6 p3004-3017 2024
Background: Dysphagia services have only recently been formalised within Chinese health services. There has been no comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of dysphagia services practice in China. Aims: To provide a profile for the dysphagia practice in China by assessing various facets of dysphagia services. Methods and Procedures: This is a survey study carried out from December 2022 to May 2023 online in China. One hundred fifty-nine respondents comprising doctors, nurses or therapists involved in the field of dysphagia rehabilitation completed a questionnaire via Sojump. The questionnaire included dichotomous (e.g., yes/no) and multiple-choice questions related to participants' general information and their provision of dysphagia management services. Results were analysed descriptively and the differences among different levels of hospitals were analysed. Outcomes and Results: Approximately two-thirds of hospitals (67.9%) started dysphagia services within the last 5 years. A significant difference in the initiation of dysphagia rehabilitation was observed across different hospital levels (X[superscript 2] = 32.70; p < 0.001). Routine dysphagia screening was a standard practice in most hospitals (71.7%), with the most frequently employed screening method being the water swallow test (95.6%). Clinical swallowing evaluation emerged as the preferred initial assessment method (80.5%) and the most utilised assessment method (91.8%). Video fluoroscopic swallow study and flexible endoscopic evaluation swallowing were used by 22.7% and 12.6% of respondents. A significant difference was observed in the choice of assessment methods across hospitals of different levels (X[superscript 2] = 43.397; p < 0.001). The majority of respondents (53.5%) primarily employed rehabilitation as the main intervention method (76%-100%). Most respondents indicated that they would reevaluate patients after treatment (74.8%) and reported routine follow-up with patients (60.4%). Conclusions and Implications: Despite the relatively recent development of dysphagia management in China, the practice patterns uncovered in this study are broadly consistent with Chinese guidelines and consensus. However, the use of instrumental assessments remains low, resulting in a lack of objective evaluation of patient conditions and outcomes. There is a need for policy and resource support in the field of dysphagia rehabilitation in China.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Physical Disabilities, Health Services, Medical Care Evaluation, Rehabilitation, Nurses, Physicians, Allied Health Personnel, Hospitals, Diagnostic Tests, Patients, Outcomes of Treatment
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A