Development of a Web-Based Course to Maintain Skills in Nurses Trained to Screen for Dysphagia
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
This research aims to facilitate the successful implementation of the new Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario dysphagia screening model for acute stroke patients. The objectives will be 1) to determine the natural history of dysphagia screening skill decay, and 2) to assess the benefit of independent web-based practice and periodic feedback on screening skill maintenance. We will enrol a convenience sample of nurses who currently work with stroke patients but who have had no prior formal training with dysphagia screening.
The study will consist of 2 phases: A) an initial pilot phase followed by B) a prospective randomized controlled study. During Phase A, three new web-based, self-instructed skill refresher courses will be developed to help nurses maintain the skills they will learn in an 8-hour workshop on dysphagia screening. During Phase B, nurses will receive the 8-hour workshop and one-on-one evaluation by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Following training, competent screeners will be randomized into one of two groups: Group A - Control group with no refresher course or periodic feedback from SLP; Group B - Web-based skill refresher courses only. Nurses will be evaluated at several timepoints throughout Phase B to assess theoretical dysphagia screening knowledge and skills.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| No Intervention: Group A Nurses Participants receive neither web-based refresher courses nor periodic feedback by SLP |
|
| Experimental: Group B Nurses Participants receive web-based skill refresher courses but no periodic feedback by SLP |
Other: TOR-BSST© Refresher Training
Web-based refresher training in dysphagia screening
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Skill decay over time among nurses trained to use the TOR-BSST© to screen for dysphagia in stroke patients [1 year]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Nurses who care for acute stroke patients
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital | Binghamton | New York | United States | |
| 2 | Foothills Hospital | Calgary | Alberta | Canada | |
| 3 | Alberta Health Services - Capital Health (University of Alberta Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital) | Edmonton | Alberta | Canada | |
| 4 | Georgian Bay General Hospital | Penetanguishene/Midland | Ontario | Canada | |
| 5 | University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital | Toronto | Ontario | Canada | M5T 2S8 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University Health Network, Toronto
- Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Rosemary Martino, MA, MSc, PhD, University of Toronto, Dept. of Speech Language Pathology
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Additional Information:
Publications
- Martino R, Foley N, Bhogal S, Diamant N, Speechley M, Teasell R. Dysphagia after stroke: incidence, diagnosis, and pulmonary complications. Stroke. 2005 Dec;36(12):2756-63. Epub 2005 Nov 3. Review.
- Martino R, Pron G, Diamant N. Screening for oropharyngeal dysphagia in stroke: insufficient evidence for guidelines. Dysphagia. 2000 Winter;15(1):19-30.
- Martino R, Silver F, Teasell R, Bayley M, Nicholson G, Streiner DL, Diamant NE. The Toronto Bedside Swallowing Screening Test (TOR-BSST): development and validation of a dysphagia screening tool for patients with stroke. Stroke. 2009 Feb;40(2):555-61. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.510370. Epub 2008 Dec 12.
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