ArticleThe South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings2021
Decision making and the bedside assessment: The Speech Language Therapists' thinking when making a diagnosis at the bed.
Article in The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Perceived readiness of South African community service speech-language therapists to manage complex paediatric dysphagia.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2025Article
- Current trends and identified gaps in dysphagia research in Africa: A scoping review.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2025Article
- Speech-language therapists' views of oral feeding of infants on high-flow oxygen.Health SA = SA Gesondheid · 2025Article
- Clinical decision-making process of healthcare workers when feeding critically ill adults in public sector ICUs in South Africa.The Southern African journal of critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Society · 2025Article
- Script Voz - clinical case simulator of adults with behavioral dysphonia: planning and content creation.CoDAS · 2025Article
- Swallowing and feeding of young children on high-flow oxygen therapy.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2024Article
- Article
- Utility of modified Mann assessment of swallowing ability (MMASA) in predicting aspiration risk and safe swallow in stroke patients.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2022Article
- Students' experiences of using a writing-intense programme to facilitate critical thinking skills on an online clinical training platform: A pilot study.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir Kommunikasieafwykings · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe bedside assessment is often seen as a screener because of its high variability in sensitivity and specificity, whilst the instrumental measures are viewed as gold standards because of the ability of speech-language therapist (SLT) to visualise the swallow more objectively.
objectivesThis research article explores how the value needs to be placed on the decision-making abilities of the SLT rather than on the assessment measure itself.
methodA mixed methodology concurrent triangulation design was employed to collect data in two phases: the first phase included observing seven SLTs conducting assessments using a standardised bedside measure together with pulse oximetry and cervical auscultation. The second phase was a focus group discussion based on the findings from the first phase. Data were analysed thematically using a bottom-up approach.
resultsThe following factors were found to influence the decision-making process at the bedside: bedside assessment data sets, patient, multidisciplinary team, context and then SLT. The availability of more data from the assessment from different data sets improved the confidence of the SLT at the bedside when needing to make clinical decisions. Clinical instincts are developed through experience and observation of those more experienced. These skills need to be developed from junior years.
conclusionThis research study showed that a bedside assessment can provide valuable information that will allow for diagnostic decisions to be made at the bedside. This study also highlighted the importance of critical thinking using clinical instincts, and that these are the factors that need to be valued and emphasised rather than the assessment measures themselves.
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