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ACQuiring knowledge in sp eech, language and hearing, Volume 11, Number 1 2009 45
MULTICULTURALISM AND DYSPHAGIA
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Primary Health Care Research
Evaluation and Development, Department of General
Practice, Flinders University for their initial set-up grant of
$4,880 and their writing grant of $3000; and Allied Health
Research Grants, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA, for two grants
of $6000 and $1900. We would also like to acknowledge our
co-researchers: Maree Creevy, Debra Ormerod, Alinka Krol
and Alison Mapleson.
directly compare health outcomes of those patients on free
water protocols with those on thickened fluids only.
We have decided to modify our research protocol in the
light of our experience to date, re-apply for ethics approval
and then recommence recruitment. The research protocol will
closely follow that described above with the most significant
change relating to the instrumental assessment of aspiration.
FEES was selected as the objective measure of aspiration
because at the time the study commenced, it was more access­
ible for research purposes in our institution, and as valid as a
modified barium swallow study (MBS) in discriminating
between penetration and aspiration (Colodny, 2002). However,
many eligible patients declined participation because of the
invasive nature of the FEES. As MBS may be more acceptable
to potential participants, and as most institutions we have
contacted have better access to MBS than FEES, we have
decided to change our research protocol and use MBS as our
objective measure of aspiration.
To reveal a statistical difference between groups, sufficient
subject numbers are required and it is now apparent that it is
not possible to recruit the required number of participants
from within one institution. We are hopeful that other
institutions with stroke patients will be able to assist with
participant recruitment and data collection.
An invitation
We are hereby extending an invitation to acute or inpatient
rehabilitation stroke units to join us in our research efforts. We
could make this an Australian multi-centre randomised
control trial, which along with the other evidence being
collected in Australia, would potentially provide cutting edge
information on the use of free water protocols. If you are
interested in joining us, or for more information, please
contact the authors.
Concluding thoughts
The main benefits of conducting research in the workplace
have been the raised awareness and appreciation of evidence
based practice, and a higher profile for the Speech Pathology
Department both within and beyond our institution.
Moreover, benefits in patient care have been observed, with
positive changes in nursing staff’s regular care of stroke
patients, with respect to their knowledge of and practice in
dysphagia, oral care and patient hydration.
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Jo Murray is a speech pathologist of 22 years who works
with adults with acquired neurological conditions. Anna
Correll is a speech pathologist who works in adult
rehabilitation in Adelaide.
Correspondence to:
Jo Murray
Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre,
207–255 Hampstead Road,
Northfield SA 5085
email: