Background More than 60% of older adults living in long-term care facilities are at higher risk for pneumonia, aspiration, and malnutrition due to oropharyngeal dysphagia. Survey findings at a long-term care facility serving veterans revealed variation in dysphagia-related care performance and knowledge gaps. This quality improvement project aimed to reduce aspiration and pneumonia rates by 25% and the daily incidence rate of abnormal vital signs, indicating microaspiration events. Methods Plan-Do-Study-Act was utilized in a long-term care facility serving veterans. Rates of aspiration, pneumonia, and abnormal vital signs were analyzed to evaluate outcomes, Independent t test was used to analyze pre-education–post-education knowledge tests. Interventions Education on dysphagia management, signage communicating dysphagia-related orders, and weekly mealtime observations were implemented to improve knowledge, application, and consistency of correct practice. Results Long-term care facility residents (n = 59; mean age, 77 years; 93.1% male) saw reduced rates of aspiration and pneumonia (47.4%, P = .022) and abnormal vital signs (51.8%, P < .001), Unintended weight loss was prevented by 37.2% ( P = .034). Pre-post tests indicated a 52.6% improvement in knowledge among nursing staff, t 53 = 7.604, P < .001. Conclusion Expanding education and improving accessibility to care-related orders to all nursing staff improved safety among long-term care residents.
Chang et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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