Impact of Knowledge and Behavior of Medical Personnel Towards Speech Therapy for Tracheostomized Patients

Background: Tracheostomized patients suffer from communication difficulty, physical pain, swallowing difficulty, and decreased quality of life. In this study, we investigated the current status of communication and swallowing difficulties in tracheostomized patients in Taiwan, and the knowledge of medical personnel about tracheostomized patients and the perceived benefits of referring them to speech therapy. Methods: We analyzed both the national data from The Collaboration Center of Health Information Application, and medical insurance data of a medical center in Taipei. We also administered a questionnaire survey to 80 medical personnel before and after an education program was given for patients and medical personnel. Results: Treatment referral rates of inpatients with tracheostomy for speech therapy were found to be at 4.87% and 10%, from national and medical center data, respectively, and only a few patients received both communication and swallowing training. Over 50% of the medical personnel never referred any tracheostomized inpatients for speech therapy. The rate of referral was not significantly affected by experience and knowledge of medical personnel of tracheostomy. Conclusion: Fundamental education about the availability of speech therapy and speech-language therapists for medical personnel would be the best way to help tracheostomized patients obtain entitled proper speech therapy in Taiwan.