Dysphagia screening using an allied health assistant delegation model: service considerations for implementation
Published 11th August 2020
Maria Schwarz, Elizabeth C. Ward, Petrea Cornwell & Anne Coccetti
Abstract
Purpose: Three facilities, involved in introducing a model of Allied Health Assistant (AHA) delegated dysphagia screening, examined barriers and facilitators to service implementation.
Materials and Methods: The 3 facilities varied in size, services and location. AHAs (n = 4) and speech-language therapists (SLTs; n = 4) directly involved in implementation at each site completed semi-structured interviews exploring the implementation experience. Analysis was guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).
Results: There was differential implementation across the sites. Facilitators to implementation fell within the CFIR Innovation Characteristic domain, with the “relative advantage” of the model and “design, quality and packaging” of the training and implementation resources being key facilitators. Barriers related to the Innovation Characteristic domain, regarding the tool’s “adaptability” in terms of screening tools selected and the implementation environment. Issues with the Inner Setting domain, specifically the “structural characteristics,” the “compatibility” of the model and the “relative priority” of the model’s implementation within other organizational priorities were also barriers.
Conclusions: Although the service model was perceived to have relative advantage, compatibility with local work-flow priorities and service needs must be thoroughly considered if AHA delegated dysphagia screening is to be beneficial as a service model to address increasing dysphagia referral demands.
Authors
Associate Professor, Speech Pathology
