Low technology audit methods of pre-packaged thickened fluids using the Bostwick Consistometer, the Line Spread Test and the Flow Test

Abstract

It is critical for patient safety that patients with dysphagia are provided with thickened fluids at the appropriate level of thickness. The primary aim of this study was to use three commonly utilised low technology audit methods – the Bostwick Consistometer (the Bostwick), the Line Spread Test (LST) and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) Flow Test (the Flow Test) – to conduct an audit of pre-packaged thickened fluids to determine compliance against norms. Based on this small pilot study, approximately 61% of samples were compliant using the Bostwick, 62% of the samples were compliant using the LST, and 87% samples were compliant using the Flow Test. There were reduced levels of agreement between the three audit methods – only on 37% of occasions was there complete agreement regarding compliances. Low levels of agreement suggest that further research would be beneficial to ensure auditing conducted with low technology tools is valid and reliable.

Keywords::

• Audit
• Dysphagia
• Rheology
• Thickened
• Fluids
• Viscosity

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jane Ross

Jane Ross Senior speech-language pathologist

Maria Schwarz

Maria Schwarz Advanced speech-language pathologist at Logan Hospital

Marnie Seabrook

Marnie Seabrook Director of speech pathology at Logan Hospital

Anne Coccetti

Anne Coccetti A/Executive Director of Allied Health (Metro South Health) and A/Divisional Director of Medicine & Emergency (Logan Hospital)