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Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Problems: An...
Journal article

Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Problems: An Interdisciplinary Team Approach

Abstract

In 1995, Oshawa General Hospital (now Lakeridge Health Corporation, Oshawa site) developed an interdisciplinary feeding and swallowing clinic to serve children with feeding problems. After four years, a retrospective chart review of 104 subjects was completed to assess the performance of the clinic, which consists of a pediatrician, a speech-language pathologist (S-LP), an occupational therapist (OT), and a registered dietitian (RD). Goals were set at the initial and follow-up visits. These goals were individualized according to client needs and were related to improvements in growth and/or feeding abilities. During this period, 176 of 232, or 75.9% (70-81, 95% confidence interval), of the initial goals were attained by the first follow-up visit. Progress in the clinic, as measured by the number of goals achieved by the first follow-up visit, was further analyzed according to the patient age group/category (i.e., infant, toddler, and child) and by the health care professional (i.e., S-LP, OT, and RD) to ascertain and compare success rates in these groups and professionals. The overall success rates in the patient age groups (p=0.07) and among the different professionals (p=0.92) were not significantly different. In short, the interdisciplinary team approach proved successful in treating feeding problems in patients referred to the clinic.

Authors

Williams S; Witherspoon K; Kavsak P; Patterson C; McBlain J

Journal

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, Vol. 67, No. 4, pp. 185–190

Publisher

Dietitians of Canada

Publication Date

December 1, 2006

DOI

10.3148/67.4.2006.185

ISSN

1486-3847

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