Dysphagia Management Practices in End-of- Life Palliative Care Patients by Speech- Language Therapists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A National Survey

Abstract

Speech and language therapists (SLTs) play a vital role in managing dysphagia and in improving quality of life of patients receiving end-of-life palliative care (EoL PC). There is limited guidance on SLT practices and roles in this field within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).While some international guidelines provide advice on the best practice of SLTs in PC they are not culturally sensitive to KSA. This study sought to explore the trends in practice, knowledge, and perceptions of SLTs in KSA towards the management of dysphagia for patients receiving end-of- life palliative care and how different they are than the international recommended practices.