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ERIC Number: EJ868754
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Aug
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1058-0360
EISSN: N/A
Feeding Tube Placement in Patients with Advanced Dementia: The Beliefs and Practice Patterns of Speech-Language Pathologists
Sharp, Helen M.; Shega, Joseph W.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, v18 n3 p222-230 Aug 2009
Purpose: To describe the beliefs and practices of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) about the use of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) among patients with advanced dementia and dysphagia. Method: A survey was mailed to a geographically stratified random sample of 1,050 medical SLPs. Results: The response rate was 57%, and 326 surveys met inclusion criteria. Fifty-six percent of SLPs recommended PEG for a patient with advanced dementia and dysphagia. Contrary to the evidence, many respondents believed that PEG improves nutritional status and increases survival. Relatively few SLPs believed that PEG improved patients' functional status or quality of life. Patient factors (e.g., age or prognosis) were more often identified as influences on recommendations for PEG than were extrinsic factors (e.g., cost). Nearly 40% believed that PEG was the standard of care, while 15% believed it should be. Very few SLPs (11%) would want a PEG themselves. Perceived standard of care was significantly related to both geographic region and population density (p less than 0.05), but self-reported practices were not. Conclusions: Discrepancies between SLPs' beliefs, the literature, and self-reported practices were observed. The findings suggest the need to connect the evidence base to clinical practice and to include SLPs in local and national discussions about end-of-life care protocols. (Contains 6 tables and 1 footnote.)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Tel: 800-638-8255; Fax: 301-571-0457; e-mail: subscribe@asha.org; Web site: http://ajslp.asha.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A