Survey of usual practice: dysphagia therapy in head and neck cancer patients

Dysphagia. 2012 Dec;27(4):538-49. doi: 10.1007/s00455-012-9404-2. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Abstract

There is no standardized dysphagia therapy for head and neck cancer patients and scant evidence to support any particular protocol, leaving institutions and individual speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to determine their own protocols based on "typical" practices or anecdotal evidence. To gain an understanding of current usual practices, a national internet-based survey was developed and disseminated to SLPs who treat head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. From a random sample of 4,000 ASHA SID13 members, 1,931 fit the inclusion criteria, and 759 complete responses were recorded for a 39.3 % response rate. Results were analyzed by institution type as well as by individual clinical experience. While some interesting trends emerged from the data, a lack of uniformity and consensus regarding best practices was apparent. This is undoubtedly due to a paucity of research adequately addressing the efficacy of any one therapy for dysphagia in the HNC population.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Deglutition Disorders / epidemiology
  • Deglutition Disorders / etiology
  • Deglutition Disorders / therapy*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / rehabilitation
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Massachusetts / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Speech-Language Pathology / methods*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*