Nurses' Knowledge And Practice Relating To The Management Of Elderly Patients With Dysphagia At Tertiary Care Hospital Lahore
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64105/fpfepb69Keywords:
Dysphagia Management; Elderly Patients; Nursing Knowledge; Nursing Practice; Tertiary Care Hospital; Patient Safety.Abstract
Background: Dysphagia, in elderly patients, will increase the risk for aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and longer hospital length of stay. Early detection, safe feeding, and complication prevention depend on nurses, yet training and standardized protocols are often lacking in low- and middle-income settings. The purpose of this study was to assess nurses' knowledge and practices for the management of dysphagia in elderly patients at a tertiary hospital in Lahore.
Objective: To assess nurses' knowledge and clinical practices in dysphagia management among the elderly, identifying shortfalls in care.
Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of 111 nurses in medical and surgical units. A structured questionnaire measured knowledge (0–7; ≥4 = good) and practice (0–7; ≥4 = adequate). SPSS v26 was used to run descriptive statistics. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained.
Results: Out of 111 participants, 69.4% were female and 41.4% were aged between 21–28 years. Fifty-one point four percent had poor knowledge, while 48.6% had good knowledge. In practice, 54.1% showed adequate practice and 45.9% inadequate, hence there is a gap in knowledge and practice.
Conclusion: Although more than half demonstrated adequate practice, more than half of the respondents did not have sufficient knowledge in the care of dysphagia. Limited experience, inconsistent training, and lack of standardized protocols likely drive this gap. Strengthening geriatric-focused education, adopting evidence-based guidelines, and ensuring ongoing professional development are vital in the effort toward improvement in dysphagia management and safety.
