Feeding experiences of nursing aides for residents with dysphagia

Dysphagia is a distressing symptom for residents in long-term care facilities, and nursing aides play an important role in feeding the residents with dysphagia. This study evaluated the perceptions of nursing aides about their feeding experiences for residents with dysphagia. This qualitative descriptive study used convenience sampling and recruited 16 nursing aides from six long-term care facilities in Central Taiwan. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews from November 2016 to March 2017. Participants were recruited until the findings reached saturation, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Analysis of participants' interview data on feeding experiences identified three main categories: recognizing dysphagia, making adjustments to adapt to the residents' dysphagia, and facing the dilemma of dysphagia management. The results may be useful in designing feeding training programs for nursing aides.