A Survey on Challenges in Providing Dysphagia Diets in Long-Term Care Insurance Facilities

Abstract

  The purpose of this study was to clarify the actual situation in regard to the diagnostic and evaluation methods of the swallowing condition used by registered dietitians working in long-term care insurance facilities as a basis for selecting a dysphagia diet suitable for the swallowing condition of each facility. It also aimed to identify the challenges these dieticians face when selecting a dysphagia diet suitable for each facility user. A questionnaire survey was distributed to 306 long-term care insurance facilities in Niigata Prefecture, and responses were received from 135 facilities. As a result, the percentage of facilities providing dysphagia diets was 34.6%. Regarding the availability of methods for diagnosing dysphasia, "Yes" was selected by 52.6%, with the modified water swallow test being the most common method. Regarding the difficulties in selecting the appropriate form of diet for swallowing adjustments, free description responses indicated that the facilities with the corresponding form of diet marked "Yes" provided opinions only when the following options were selected: "The number of meal forms (categories) increases when considering the individual response to the options" and "The number of types (categories) of regulated swallowing diet forms is limited." On the other hand, the facilities without an evaluation method or corresponding food form expressed concerns about the lack of clear criteria for selecting an adjusted dysphagia diet and responding to the consistency and hardness of the food.