Understanding health care professionals’ knowledge and practice regarding malnutrition and dysphagia: Insights from Targeted Education to Address Malnutrition and Swallowing disorders (TEAMS) international survey

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OBJECTIVE: To understand the current knowledge gaps regarding malnutrition and dysphagia among healthcare professionals worldwide. DESIGN: An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was developed in English and translated into six languages. It comprised 26 questions divided into three categories: demographics, current clinical practice, and educational needs. Data were collected between July 2023 and January 2024. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare professionals and students involved in the care of dysphagia patients worldwide. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 877 responses, predominantly from dietitians (44.3%) and speech therapists (29.2%) across 54 countries, were analyzed. Only about one-third of participants reported consistent nutrition screening and the use of validated tools. Nearly half (46%) indicated that less than 60% of malnourished dysphagia patients received interventions. The most common (22%) knowledge source was work experience, whereas clinicians' knowledge was a key challenge in managing malnutrition in dysphagia patients. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Knowledge among international healthcare professionals on malnutrition and dysphagia may be inadequate, and there may be an underuse of validated tools for nutrition screening. These results call for the need to develop a targeted education program that addresses the current knowledge gap on malnutrition and dysphagia among healthcare professionals.