The Present Condition of Dysphagia Rehabilitation in Japan

―Results of Questionnaires of Dysphagia Rehabilitation―

Abstract

A survey of dysphagia rehabilitation in a clinical setting was conducted by sending questionnaires to members of the Japanese Society of Dysphagia Rehabilitation（JSDR）．Based on the replies to the questionnaire，the subjects were classified into four groups： whether they offered exercise therapy for eating and swallowing problems and whether they used videofluorography．ln about half of the facilities where exercise therapy was offered，videofluorography was used．On the other hand，few of the facilities where exercise therapy was not offered used it．Among facilities surveyed，many hospitals used videofluorography，while few dental clinics used it even though most of the dental clinics offered exercise therapy for dysphagia．Concerning the kinds of professions engaged in dysphagia rehabilitation in the facilities，many nurses and speech therapists were in a rehabilitation team．ln most of the facilities， various kinds of professionals worked as team on the examination and rehabilitation of dysphagic patients．The importance of a team approach is gradually being recognized in the field of dysphagia rehabilitation．However，about half of the facilities pointed out difiiculties in maintaining good teamwork among various professionals in a team．Among problems in dysphagia rehabilitation，insufficient examination and risk management ranked high on the list．The results of the survey suggested the difficulties in coordination between facilities（especially between a hospital and a dental clinic），education needed for dysphagic examination and exercise therapy，and teamwork among various kinds of professionals．The JSDR is expected to play an important role in resolving these problems．