Oropharyngeal dysphagia management and informed consent: a survey of speech-language pathologists' practice patterns when recommending modified texture diets.
Matthew G Ward, Angela S Bowman
PMID 40416744WHAT IT FOUND
Most SLPs who recommend modified texture diets do not fully inform patients of the risks.
Only 49.7% almost always disclose thickened liquid hazards and 39.9% do so for altered solids, despite evidence that these diets do not prevent pneumonia.
Key findings
01Only 49.7% of SLPs almost always inform patients of the risks associated with thickened liquids, and 39.9% do so for altered solid textures.
02The median number of known risks of modified texture diets correctly identified by clinicians was 8 out of 13.
0321.7% of clinicians did not select a single known risk associated with modified texture diets from the provided list.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The survey was part of a larger study and not specifically designed to test informed consent, so it did not ask if SLPs knew that informed consent is legally required for MTDs. Self-reported practice patterns may not reflect actual clinical behavior. A significant number of participants did not complete all survey questions, which may introduce bias. The sample was recruited through social media and professional groups, which may not represent all practicing SLPs.
Declared interests
The authors declare that no financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that SLPs are unaware of the risks of MTDs. The study shows they often do not disclose them to patients, but it did not directly test whether SLPs know that informed consent is required for these interventions.