JCPSLP Vol 23, Issue 1 2021

Table 4 Students (n = 24) mean pre–post ratings of confidence in generic and dysphagia related skills in working with patients with dysphagia

Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test values p value

Post clinic ratings Median (IQR)

Pre clinic ratings Median (IQR)

Post clinic ratings* Mean (SD)

Questionnaire statements “I feel confident in my ability to…”

Pre clinic ratings* Mean (SD)

Establish rapport with an adult client with swallowing difficulties Take a case history from an adult with swallowing difficulties Interact in a professional manner with an adult with swallowing difficulties

4.12 (0.46)

4.42 (0.51)

4.0 (0.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.005

3.89 (0.32)

4.32 (0.48)

4.0 (0.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.002

4.47 (0.51)

4.53 (0.51)

4.0 (1.0)

5.0 (1.0)

0.480

Conduct an oromotor assessment

3.47 (0.61)

4.26 (0.45)

4.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

Conduct a comprehensive assessment for dysphagia

3.05 (0.62)

4.05 (0.62)

3.0 (0.0)

4.0 (0.0)

0.000

Interpret the results from assessment accurately

3.21 (0.63)

3.95 (0.52)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (0.0)

0.001

Make appropriate recommendations for management

3.16 (0.69)

4.00 (0.58)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (0.0)

0.001

Provide appropriate education to the client and family/ carers

3.42 (0.61)

4.21 (0.63)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

Implement direct therapy techniques

2.87 (0.52)

3.58 (0.69)

3.0 (0.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

Implement indirect therapy techniques

2.89 (0.57)

3.84 (0.60)

3.0 (0.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

Write a report outlining assessment and treatment for an adult with swallowing difficulties

3.16 (0.69)

3.89 (0.74)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.002

Mentor other students who are inexperienced in swallowing management

2.89 (0.99)

3.47 (0.90)

3.0 (2.0)

3.0 (1.0)

0.008

* Responses were obtained on an ordinal scale from 1 to 5 where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree

Table 5 Students (n = 24) mean pre–post ratings of level of knowledge

Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test values p value

Post clinic ratings Median (IQR)

Pre clinic ratings Median (IQR)

Post clinic ratings* Mean (SD)

Areas of knowledge

Pre clinic ratings* Mean (SD)

Swallowing difficulties – types and aetiolgies

3.05 (0.85)

3.58 (0.84)

3.0 (2.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

Complications of swallowing difficulties

3.42 (0.90)

3.89 (0.81)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.005

The assessment of swallowing difficulties

3.16 (0.76)

4.05 (0.85)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

The interpretation of observed swallowing behaviours

2.89 (0.81)

3.68 (0.82)

3.0 (2.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.001

Direct techniques for the management of dysphagia

2.79 (0.71)

3.42 (0.77)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.001

Indirect techniques for the management of dysphagia

2.79 (0.71)

3.63 (0.76)

3.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.000

Impact that swallowing difficulties have on a person

3.58 (0.90)

4.21 (0.85)

4.0 (1.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.001

Impact that swallowing difficulties have on family/carers

3.42 (0.96)

4.05 (0.85)

4.0 (2.0)

4.0 (1.0)

0.013

* Responses were obtained on an ordinal scale from 1 to 5 where 1 = no knowledge and 5 = very good knowledge

knowledge questions were largely unchanged. It was noted that clients did not consistently complete the free form questions which may have influenced the knowledge outcomes. Although community health care has shifted to a model to empower clients to self-manage their conditions with the ability for clients to self-refer into services, the number of patients who do this remains small (Howells et al., 2019). Therefore, the lack of responses on knowledge questions may potentially stem from the ongoing lack

to recognise that providing opportunity to socialise with peers with similar conditions in isolation is also not enough support to reduce any anxiety or burden of dysphagia, and further psychological support is likely required for change in anxiety levels to be observed. For participants with dysphagia, there was a trend of improved knowledge for the question of “when to contact their speech pathologist regarding their swallow” following the group; however, the responses to the other two

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JCPSLP Volume 23, Number 1 2021

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