Client and Student Perceptions of a Group-Based, Student-Led Service Model “Dysphagia Afternoon Tea”

Abstract

This study explored the feasibility and impact of a novel student-led group-based intervention—Dysphagia Afternoon Tea (DAT)—delivered to community-dwelling people with chronic dysphagia. Communitydwelling individuals with chronic dysphagia (M 70yrs; SD 9.71) participated in the DAT. Participants with dysphagia (n = 20) and students (n = 24) completed questionnaires before and after the DAT assessing knowledge, confidence, anxiety and satisfaction of the group. Participants with dysphagia reported high satisfaction and significantly increased confidence (p = 0.002) and understanding of their swallowing (p = 0.003) following the group. Students reported statistically significant improvements in 11 out of 12 items related to confidence (p = <0.009), all eight questionnaire items assessing dysphagia knowledge (p = <0.02), and reduced anxiety about working with adults with dysphagia (p = 0.001). Student-led group-based intervention may be a feasible service-delivery model for managing people with milder dysphagia in the community and may facilitate dysphagia skill development in students. Further research into clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness of the model should be considered.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• Community
• Dysphagia
• Group
• Student-Led

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Allied Health Research Clinical Backfill Funding through Gold Coast Health. The authors report no declarations of interest for this research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shelley Gapper

Mrs Shelley Gapper is a senior speech pathologist at Gold Coast Health.

Rachel Wenke

Dr Rachel Wenke is a senior speech pathologist and principal research fellow for allied health at Gold Coast Health.

Melissa Lawrie

Ms Melissa Lawrie is the director of speech pathology and audiology for Gold Coast Health.

Elizabeth Cardell

Professor Elizabeth Cardell is the deputy head of the School (Learning and Teaching), School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast campus.