Awareness and implementation of swallowing training for laryngectomy patients of nurses in Otolaryngology Department in Class III Grade A hospitals

Abstract

Objective To investigate the awareness and implementation of swallowing training for laryngectomy patients among nurses of Otolaryngology Department in ClassⅢ Grade A hospitals of China so as to provide a basis for standardizing the swallowing training for laryngectomy patients and training for nurses. Methods From September 2019 to October 2019, this study selected 274 nurses of Otolaryngology Department from 46 hospitals in 26 provinces or cities of China as subjects by convenience sampling. All of nurses were investigated with the self-designed awareness of swallowing training for laryngectomy patients questionnaires among nurses of Otolaryngology Department. SPSS 19.0 was used for data analysis, and enumeration data were expressed as the frequency, percentage or constituent ratio. Results A total of 274 questionnaires were sent out and 268 valid questionnaires were collected. Among 268 nurses, there were 4.10% (11/268) of them completely understood the swallowing function training knowledge. Departments with the swallowing function training standard for the laryngectomy patients accounted for 43.66% (117/268) . A total of 95.52% (256/268) of nurses thought that it was necessary to unify the swallowing function training standard for the laryngectomy patients, and 93.28% (250/268) of nurses agreed to carry out swallowing function taining for patients. However, there were only 30.22% (81/268) of nurses carrying out swallowing assessment by scales. Conclusions In China, nurses of Otolaryngology Department in ClassⅢ Grade A hospitals have inadequate knowledge of swallowing function training for laryngectomy patients, and the swallowing function training lacks unified standard. Swallowing training and standardized nursing practice needs to be further improved. Key words: Laryngeal neoplasms; Laryngectomy; Swallowing training; Health education