Knowledge and Skills Needs of Caregivers of Dysphagia Patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and skill needs of caregivers for patients post stroke with dysphagia to inform targeted education and training. A questionnaire was developed based on the literature and expert input, and 195 caregivers from 3 tertiary hospitals in Nantong, China, were surveyed. The highest needs were related to complications (87.39 ± 0.43) and nutritional indicators (87.02 ± 0.58). Knowledge needs positively correlated with education level, income, caregiving duration, and prior training (all P < .01). Caregivers demonstrated a high demand for feeding-related knowledge. Tailored health education based on individual caregiver profiles is critical to improving care quality for patients with dysphagia.