Develop a standardized metric to assess competence in dysphagia management among healthcare providers.¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 3 claims (3 for) · 1 study (1 review), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The review recommends developing a standardized metric to assess competence in dysphagia management among healthcare providers, stating that "a specific methodology or metric has not been identified as the gold standard for assessing competence in dysphagia management in any field of study." Such a metric would create a consistent standard for competence, promote equitable and effective care delivery across diverse healthcare settings, and improve outcomes for individuals with swallowing disorders.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Competency assessments should target participatory decision-making, clinical skills, core knowledge, clinical reasoning, technology use, and patient-provider relationships as assessment categories.

Constraints¶

• Future research should explore the feasibility of developing and implementing competency measures that account for cultural diversity and adapt to the unique needs of various settings, including those with limited resources.

Target Learners¶

• Healthcare providers managing dysphagia, including SLPs, nurses, and physicians

Target Learning Goals¶

• Competence in dysphagia management, including assessment, treatment, and interdisciplinary collaboration

Claims¶

• No specific standardized protocol currently exists for the assessment of dysphagia competence across healthcare disciplines. [+W]
• A prominent trend was the reliance on competency metrics that involved expert observation of specific clinical skills, with a notable absence of comprehensive measures combining broad scope and operationally defined skill sets. [+W]
• The reviewed competency assessments can be classified into three categories: broad assessments, narrow assessments, and unclear or unspecified assessments. [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Use multiple assessment methods to comprehensively evaluate a healthcare provider's competence in all aspects of dysphagia management.

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Hazelwood R. Jordan, Robinson Garnet F., Wolford George W., Smith Rebecca F. (2025). Assessment of Dysphagia Management Competence among Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review. Dysphagia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-025-10835-1