Awareness of Dysphagia: An Integrative Review

Purpose: This review article aims to describe the awareness of dysphagia among different populations, including the general public, those with lived experience of the condition and their family and friends, and professionals who may be well placed to contribute to its management. Method: An integrative review approach was chosen to assimilate different research studies of different designs to provide an overview of dysphagia awareness across the population, regardless of their experience and contact with the condition. Results: A total of 41 papers were included in this review article. In individuals living with dysphagia, their subjective experience of swallowing often did not align with clinical assessment findings. Health professionals did not have high awareness and knowledge of dysphagia, unless their specialization exposed them to the condition, and individuals with dysphagia often felt that they were not adequately supported by health professionals. Hospitality and food industry staff in aged care and medical care settings showed more awareness of dysphagia and dysphagia diet needs compared to those in the community. Conclusions: Raising awareness and providing education for dysphagia should be a priority for speech-language pathologists and other health professionals, which should include education of fellow health professionals and the wider public. Awareness and knowledge of dysphagia are low in society, even in those who are or will be most affected by the condition.