Mismanagement of dysphagia can result in life-threatening complications. Staff are responsible for the preparation and delivery of texture-modified food and/or fluids, and monitoring for signs of dysphagia within public health (Bakhtiyari et al., 2019). Thus, dysphagia education across all care settings is a central responsibility of Speech Pathology and training in dysphagia management must be comprehensive and tailored to the specific staff cohorts involved (SPA, 2023a).

The amalgamation of a regional health service and a new online learning platform necessitated the redevelopment of the dysphagia training for staff. Three comprehensive and accessible education packages were developed for each staff cohort; environmental/food services, inpatient nursing and residential aged care facilities.

Utilising a pre-post study design, this quality assurance project aimed to evaluate 1) learning impact utilising pre- and post-knowledge-based assessments and auditing pre- and post-Victorian Health Incident Management System (VHIMS) data, 2) relevance, accessibility, and self-efficacy of the modules utilising pre- and post-questionnaires, and 3) recruitment through analysis against staffing cohort numbers.

Across the 8-month period, 143 staff accessed the education package, with 114 staff completing the knowledge assessments, 106 staff the pre-module and 52 staff the post-module optional questionnaires. Results indicate an increase in staff knowledge of dysphagia (mean 8.39 vs mean 8.69), self-efficacy (mean 3.91 vs mean 4.41 on a 5-point scale), and highly rated accessibility and relevance in each education package (mean 4.4/5). Notably, the modules had a small level of uptake (n=143 of a possible ~1900 staff) despite numerous avenues of promotion.

The outcomes of this project indicate that tailored staff training enhances dysphagia understanding and confidence in supporting patients. Future evaluations may explore strategies to optimize education uptake and identify further training needs. This will guide the direction and future improvements in training of dysphagia management within this regional health service and public health more broadly.

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Bakhtiyari, J., Ghorbani, R., Salmani, M., Asadi, M., Irani, S., Esmaeel Abadi, R., (2019) Physicians' Perspective on a Multidisciplinary Approach to Dysphagia Management. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. 31(104) PMID: 31223592.

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The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd. (2023a). Scope of Practice in Speech Pathology: Guideline. Melbourne, Victoria: The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd.

The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd. (2023b). Speech Pathologists Working with Older People: Position Statement. Melbourne, Victoria: The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Ltd.