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Knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns of obstructive sleep apnea among speech-language pathologists

  • Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article
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Abstract

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder characterised by repeated narrowing and closure of the upper airway during sleep. Despite growing evidence that dysphagia is a frequent sequela of OSA, the role of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in managing OSA remains unclear. The aim of this international study was to evaluate SLPs knowledge, attitudes, and experience of OSA.

Methods

A validated questionnaire, OSA Knowledge and Attitudes (OSAKA), was distributed to SLPs internationally via an online survey. Additional information on demographics, educational history, and clinical practices was ascertained.

Results

From a total of 1647 respondents, 822 clinicians from twenty-four countries were included in the final analysis. Knowledge of OSA among SLPs was limited; the mean (SD) rate of correct answers was 55% (22%). Over half of SLPs reported patients with OSA on their caseload, with the majority of patients referred for dysphagia services. Yet, only half of SLPs reported confidence in their ability to assess or manage dysphagia in patients with OSA. SLPs’ experience of OSA had an effect on their knowledge and attitudes [F (2, 817) = 17.279, p < 0.001].

Conclusions

SLPs are involved in the management of patients with OSA but are practising with limited knowledge and confidence. The findings highlight the need to increase OSA education and training for SLPs. In addition, there is a need for targeted research to increase the evidence base for development of clinical practice guidelines for dysphagia management in patients with OSA.

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Data availability

The data underlying this article will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.

Code availability

Not applicable.

Abbreviations

OSA:

Obstructive sleep apnea

OSAKA:

Obstructive sleep apnea knowledge and attitudes

SLP:

Speech-language pathologist

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Emma S. Wallace & Danny J. Eckert

  2. The University of Sydney, Department of Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia

    Emma S. Wallace

  3. University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA

    Ms. Ankita Bhutada & Kendrea Garand

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama, 2451 USA Medical Centre Dr , Mobile, AL, 36617, USA

    William A. Broughton

Authors
  1. Emma S. Wallace
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  2. Ms. Ankita Bhutada
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  3. William A. Broughton
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  4. Danny J. Eckert
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  5. Kendrea Garand
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emma S. Wallace.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Was obtained from Flinders University Human Ethics Committee and The University of South Alabama Institutional Review Board.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Consent for publication

Informed consent for publication was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of interest

Professor Danny J Eckert is supported by a NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (1116942) and an Investigator Grant (1196261). Outside the current study, Professor Eckert has a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)-P grant (Industry partner Oventus Medical) and receives research income from Bayer and Apnimed and serves as a consultant. None of the other co-authors have any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest.

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Comments

Aiming to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns of speech-language pathologists regarding obstructive sleep apnea, this manuscript provides essential insight into the complexity of this rather prevalent disease. It approaches its interfaces with speech-language pathology and the importance of the professional training of clinicians who work with these patients. It is an excellent paper.

Luciana Moraes Studart-Pereira.

Brazil.

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Wallace, E.S., Bhutada, M.A., Broughton, W.A. et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns of obstructive sleep apnea among speech-language pathologists. Sleep Breath 26, 1141–1152 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-021-02481-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-021-02481-2

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