Proposal of Speech-Language Pathology activities in Palliative Care in hospitalized oncology patients

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a Speech-Language Pathology – SLP proposal to guarantee the security aspects of swallowing and facilitate the communication of palliative care patients with cancer admitted at a hospital. Everyday, patients characterized as palliative care in the hospital receive a SLP visit and undergo professional assessment specially if it is observed predictors of aspiration risk or complaints of discomfort while feeding. After the clinical assessment, if oropharyngeal dysphagia is inferred, patients are accompanied by the SLP. The treatment aim’s rehabilitation and/or minimization of the aspiration risk, according to the clinical status and desires of the patient and the family. The patient evaluation is always considered and the SLP seeks to avoid any discomforts related to feeding and/or communication disorders. Thus, it was concluded that the SLP can contribute actively within the multidisciplinary team of palliative care patients with cancer admitted at a hospital, assessing, preventing, rehabilitating and maintaining, when possible, the swallowing safe and pleasurable by managing the risk of aspiration and improving the patient quality of life related to the oral feeding and communication.