A survey of speech pathologist practice patterns for consulting registered dieticians when recommending diet alterations

Introduction: Diet modification in dysphagia management can significantly impact patient nutrition and hydration status. Since speech-language pathologists (SLPs) do not receive formal training in nutrition, consulting Registered Dieticians (RDs) to assist in diet recommendations is important for patient wellness. The study aimed to better understand current SLP practice patterns for consulting RDs and investigate how work setting, years of experience, education, and patient diagnosis may influence decisions. Methods: A six-item survey was provided to practicing SLPs via a web-based format. Descriptive statistics were used to describe trends in the frequency of RD consultation. Logistic regression was used to identify demographics or educational factors that showed statistically significant higher odds for consulting an RD. Results: 359 SLPs completed the entire survey. Thirty-nine percent of all SLPs and 40% of acute care SLPs indicated they have never or rarely (<= 10% of the time) consult an RD prior to making a diet recommendation. Work setting and years of experience did not significantly impact the frequency of RD consults. However, those who had previously taken a course on the impact of diet modifications were 2.4 times more likely to consult an RD (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Since the majority (82%) of participants reported working in an inpatient setting and regulations require, at a minimum, access to an RD in a consultative capacity, the low percentage of consultations indicates an underutilization of a valuable resource. Increased educational opportunities that emphasize the impact of modiying diets may increase RD consultations and team-based decision-making to positively impact overall patient health.