Thickened fluids: Investigation of users' experiences and perceptions

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• 作者：Christina H. Smith ; Emma M. Jebson ; Ben Hanson
• 关键词：Health ; Quality of life ; Modified diets ; Fluid thickeners ; Children
• 刊名：Clinical Nutrition
• 出版年：February, 2014
• 年：2014
• 卷：33
• 期：1
• 页码：171-174
• 全文大小：178 K

文摘

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Summary

Background & aims

Fluid thickeners are an important and commonly-used strategy to manage swallowing difficulties however there are no reports of the perceptions and experiences of parents of children using thickeners.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews of 14 parents having a child using fluid thickeners due to swallowing difficulties.

Results

Parents reported improvements in quality of life and health through the use of thickeners. They also reported persistent difficulties in the use of thickeners.

Conclusions

Results showed unanimous goodwill and positive attitudes towards thickeners and their observed benefits, tempered by common difficulties with thickeners (variability and unpredictability). There remains scope for improvements of commercial thickeners and in information conveyed to users.