Profile of patients attended by the speech therapists of the home care service

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to ascertain the profile of home care service (HCS) users with speech and language complaints in João Pessoa, Paraíba (PB).

Methods:

a descriptive and quantitative study using an indirect documentation technique based on an analysis of primary source documents, characterized as a documentary study, conducted at a HCS, in João Pessoa, PB, that stores user information in the form of medical records. All patient records included by the HCS from June 2012 to June 2016 were analyzed. After the eligibility criteria were applied, the sample consisted of 114 medical records. The collected data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to generate descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS (version 21.0).

Results:

most patients were males (59.6%), elderly (62.3%), had been diagnosed with a stroke (57.9%),had histories of dysphagia (76.3%), speech problems (58.8%), swallowing disorders (80.7%), and abnormal chewing (77.2%). Dysphagia is often associated with stroke, predominantly among males and the elderly.

Conclusion

difficulty in swallowing, or dysphagia, is often associated with stroke, predominantly in the presence of the sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with men and the elderly.

Keywords:
Home Care Service; Primary Healthcare; Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

RESUMO

Objetivo:

verificar o perfil dos usuários com queixas fonoaudiológicas do serviço de atenção domiciliar do município de João Pessoa, Paraíba.

Métodos:

trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, natureza quantitativa, mediante técnica de documentação indireta a partir da análise de documentos de fontes primárias, sendo caracterizado, portanto, como estudo documental. A pesquisa foi realizada junto ao serviço de atenção domiciliar (SAD) do município de João Pessoa/PB, que dispõe de informações dos usuários armazenadas em forma de prontuários. Todos os prontuários dos pacientes atendidos pelo SAD no período de junho de 2012 a junho de 2016 foram analisados, e após os critérios de elegibilidade, amostra ficou constituída por 114 prontuários. Os dados coletados foram inseridos em uma planilha do Microsoft Excel para realização de estatística descritiva no Software IBM SPSS (versão 21.0).

Resultados:

verificou-se que a maioria dos pacientes atendidos foi do sexo masculino (59,6%), idosos (62,3%) e diagnosticados com acidente vascular encefálico (57,9%). Além disso, apresentaram histórico de disfagia (76,3%), problemas de fala (58,8%), deglutição alterada (80,7%) e mastigação alterada (77,2%). A disfagia está frequentemente associada aos AVE’s apresentando predomínio de indivíduos do sexo masculino e idosos.

Conclusão:

concluiu-se que a alteração de dificuldade de deglutição, ou seja, a disfagia está frequentemente associada aos AVE’s apresentando o predomínio das variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas de homens e idosos.

Descritores:
Serviços de Assistência Domiciliar; Atenção Primária em Saúde; Fonoaudiologia

Introduction

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística; IBGE), over the past few years, Brazil has shown a new demographic pattern characterized by a reduction in population growth and changes in its age composition, with a significant increase in the elderly population. Because of these changes, important developments have occurred in the population's epidemiological profile, including changes in morbidity and mortality indicators^1-4.

Healthcare systems in various parts of the world refer to the difficulty associated with providing effective and continued care to individuals with chronic diseases^5-7. The United States has launched certain reforms, but gaps remain, particularly regarding the centralization of care in medical practices, hospitals, and nursing homes⁵.In light of this reality, one study conducted in England used projections to estimate the demand that will be needed to monitor and assist dependent individuals over the next 80 years⁷.

In this context, the incorporation of non-traditional modes of healthcare production is noteworthy. Examples of home palliative care in Brazil include the Family Health Strategy (Estratégia Saúde da Família; ESF) and the Home Care Service (HCS). However, the registration and systematisation of these services is scarce, in both the private and public spheres^2,8.

The implementation of the HCS arose from the need to reduce costs and increase user satisfaction. The HCS also aims to increase the number of available hospital beds, reduce the risk of infection, and increase the humanisation of care. Therefore, it is a strategy with a strong focus on minimising hospitalisation through on-going home care⁹.

Under the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde; SUS), the HCS plays a complementary role to hospitalisation and outpatient care, and it is focused on humanised care. To this end, actions are undertaken with regard to treatment, prevention, and health promotion to rehabilitate patients in their homes and ensure that the same care provided in-hospital is received on an on-going basis. Analysing the health and disease process is essential for guiding quality practices consistent with the social reality in which healthcare professionalsoperate^2,10,11.

This service is the responsibility of the Multidisciplinary Home Care Team (Equipe Multiprofissional de Atenção Domiciliar; EMAD), which is composed of a nurse, physical therapist, doctor, and four nursing technicians, and the Multi-Professional Support Team (Equipe Multiprofissional de Apoio; EMAP), which is composed of a social worker, pharmacist, speech therapist, nutritionist, and psychologist^12-14.

HCSs have been implemented in several countries because of epidemiological and demographic changes primarily related to the rational use of hospital beds to reduce costs and improve humanised care^4,15.

However, few Brazilian studies have addressed the data related to users with speech and language complaints aiming to observe the success achieved via the implementation of such a programme at the municipal level to improve the logic of and seeking greater efficiency in HCS. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the social and clinical profiles of users with speech and language complaints of anHCSin João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.

Methods

Ethical Aspects

In accordance with National Research Council Resolution 466/2012, this research project was submitted in advance to the ethics committee of the source institution and was approved under CAAE protocol number 445851715.9.0000.5188.

Study Design

This cross-sectional, descriptive, andquantitative study used an indirect documentation technique based on an analysis of primary source documents. As such, the current work is characterised as a documentary study. Variables were collected regarding sociodemographic characteristics, clinical diagnosis, deleterious oral habits, and speech and languageconditions.

Sample

The medical records of 846 HCS users from June 2012 to June 2016 in João Pessoa, PB, were analysed. Patients with speech and language complaints were eligible for the study; as such, 114 participants were selected after the records had been analysed.

Data Collection

Data were collected from the municipal health office of João Pessoa, PB, in conjunction with the Office of Labour Management and Health Education.

Two previously trained researchers analysed the records at the service itself in a private environment. The collected data were recorded on a form designed for this purpose.

The variables of interest included gender, age, clinical diagnosis, reason for consultation, speech therapy observations, speech and language conditions, and diagnosis.

Data Analyses

The collected data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to generate descriptive statistics using IBM SPSS (version 21.0).

Results

A total of 114 HCS users with speech and language complaints were treated between June 2012 and June 2016. Most of the treated patients were men (n = 68; 59.6%); most were elderly (n = 71; 62.3%); and stroke was the major clinical diagnosis found (n = 66; 57.9%). The main reason for attending the speech therapy clinic was dysphagia (n = 87; 64.9%). The remaining demographic profile information is shown in Table 1.

Table 1:
Sociodemographic and clinical diagnostic variables as well as the reason for speech and language therapy consultation among users treated by the HCS from 2012 to 2016, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil (n=114)

Variables	N	%
Gender
Males	68	59.6
Females	46	40.4
Age group
Child	1	0.9
Adolescent	4	3.5
Adult	36	31.6
Elderly	71	62.3
Not reported	2	1.8
Clinical diagnosis
Stroke	66	57.9
Cerebral palsy	4	3.5
Parkinson’s	3	2.6
Hypertension	2	1.8
Mental impairment	2	1.8
Others	36	31.5
Reason for consultation
History of dysphagia	87	76.3
Weight loss	74	64.9
Speech problems	67	58.8
Soft food	60	52.6
Pneumonia	21	18.4
Need for food thickener	17	14.9

Speech and language disorders were evaluated. The following conditions were most prevalent: swallowing (n = 92; 80.7%), dentition (n = 92; 80.7%), and chewing (n = 88; 77.2%). A speech and language condition analysis revealed that most users did not require artificial respiration (n = 101; 88.6%) and received food orally (n = 92; 80.7%).The diagnosis performed by the HCS’s speech therapists revealed that dysphagia (n = 59; 51.8%) and oral myofunctional disorder (n = 11; 9.6%) were the most prevalent conditions during the evaluated time period (Table 2).

Table 2:
Speech therapy profile of the users treated by a HCS from 2012 to 2016 in João Pessoa, PB, Brazil (n=114)

Variables	n	%
Speech therapy observations
Does not need respiratory support	101	88.6
Feeding by oral route	92	80.7
Conscious	84	73.7
Soft food	60	52.6
Somnolent	22	19.3
Need for food thickener	17	14.9
Nasoenteral feeding (NET)	12	10.5
Use of intermittent oxygen therapy	4	3.5
Nasogastric feeding (NGT)	2	1.8
Speech and language disorders
Swallowing	92	80.7
Dentition	92	80.7
Chewing	88	77.2
Cheeks	83	72.8
Articulation	81	71.1
Lips	77	67.5
Voice quality	55	48.2
Suction	54	47.4
Cough	28	24.6
Gag reflex	26	22.8
Soft palate	10	8.8
Diagnosis
Dysphagia	59	51.8
Orofacial myofunctional disorder	11	9.6
Aphasia and dysphagia	11	9.6
Dysphagia and orofacial myofunctional disorder	10	8.8
Aphasia	6	5.3
Not reported	6	5.3
Stroke	3	2.6
Aphasia and orofacial myofunctional disorder	2	1.8
Dysphagia, aphasia, and orofacial myofunctional disorder	2	1.8
Normal	2	1.8
Dysarthria	2	1.8

Discussion

This study is justified by the lack of investigations of this nature in Brazil and because knowledge of this population can contribute to health service planning processes and evaluation. Such planning and evaluation processes are basic steps when developing a healthcare programme that aims to increase the effectiveness of its actions and seeks to expand and qualify care. Therefore, knowing the profile of the users who will receive this care is critical to the development of the (often interdisciplinary) intervention protocols that meet the real needs of this population¹⁵. In addition, the current results have scientific relevance because they support improvementsin research and prevention programmes, thereby enhancing the work of primary care managers and professionals.

For Silva et al.⁸, home care constitutes a concrete strategy for establishinga substitutive network by producing new modes of care that meet the expectations of users, families, social networks, and workers. Home care requires political, conceptual, and operational sustainability as well as the recognition of new ways of organising and coordinating the proposals under discussion. Therefore, it isnecessary to considerelements such as comprehensive healthcare, financial economic rationality, the participants of care, and coordination with other services.

From the point of view of the population's need for speech therapy services, children's oral language disorders have been the most researched, in terms of both family health teams and the actions aimed at the development of sensory-motor-oral system functions. In these cases, a perspective of promotion and disease prevention is preferable¹⁶.

According to Molini-Avejonas, Mendes, and Amato¹², the role of speech therapy in public health services is extensive and permeates different levels of care. Therefore, it requires teamwork marked by the use of healthcare technologies that consider the real needs of the population within both basic and specialised care. For these authors, it is necessary to advance the production and systematisation of the healthcare processes that are able to respond to severe language, voice, oral motor skills, and hearing disorders. Therefore, monitoring and evaluative systematisation should contribute to a comprehensive healthcare strategy.

It is in this plural context of healthcare intervention that home care services have emerged as another strategy to expand healthcare coverage. These services aim to reduce unnecessary hospitalisation previously caused by weak support; minimisethe complications caused by prolonged hospitalisation, thereby increasing the turnover of hospital beds; and promote palliative care where pain relief and a good death can be a part of the health team's work. These practices can be developed even in economically disadvantaged environments and contribute to the provision of integrated and on-going care^17,18.

The sociodemographic results for the HCS users revealed a prevalence of men (59.6%) and elderly individuals (62.3%), confirming the findings of other studies in the literature^4,19,20. These studies show that married elderly white men with incomplete primary school education predominate^4,19,21. However, another national study found that home care users tended to be women with chronic diseases and functional disabilities²¹. Therefore, the data found might be associated with the epidemiological profile typical of each region. Furthermore, the predominance of the elderly is explained by disability caused by the morbidities that affect this age group.

Most of the patients who attended the HCS in João Pessoa, PB, were elderly. This result is consistent with past research^19,20,22. These data are related to the increase in life expectancy and chronic disease associated with this age group. This finding underlines the importance of home care, especially given the movement restrictions that the majority of these patients experience due to senescence. The literature review of Ferreira, Bansi, and Paschoa (2014)²² described the HCSin relation to user demand, healthcare flow, and service management. They found that the demand for elderly care is increasing due to population ageing²².

This study shows that the use of home care has increased, primarily among the more vulnerable elderly individuals affected by chronic morbidity. In a population-based study that evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with home healthcare in the elderly, Wachs et al. (2016)⁴ found that the HCS had contributed to the promotion of equity in Brazilian healthcare via the expansion of the ESF.

The results of the present study revealed that strokes were most common, which corroborates the findings of other studies conducted in Brazil^18,19,22 and elsewhere according to Baumann et al. (2014)²³. Importantly, stroke survivors are often unable to perform routine activities and suffer communication (e.g., language, writing, and speaking) and body mobility disorders. This effect is reflected in major changes to these patients' quality of life and requires appropriate and multidisciplinary treatment^20,24. In addition, the importance of developing public policies such as home care that aims to improve quality of lifeis emphasised^4,19,23,25.

Patients treated within the HCS generally have multiple conditions and require multidisciplinary treatment. In addition, because of the chronic nature of the pathologies presented by these patients, the duration of on-going care must be increased, confirming the need for a service that focuses on caring for the patient in his or her home¹⁸. Ferreira et al. (2014)²² proposed a model of elderly healthcare that aims to provide effectiveness, efficiency, and actions involving all levels of care, including the prevention of, and rehabilitation from, health issues.

In addition, the majority of those evaluated did not require respiratory support, were able to take in food orally, and were conscious. Oral feeding remains more prevalent even after the onset of morbidities such as stroke and cerebral palsy, which were the most prevalent forms found in this study. This result has also been found by other studies^23,24, but future studies should evaluate the degree of disease severityto facilitate response and improvement in particular situations where oral feeding remains limited.

Regarding the reasons for attending speech therapy, dysphagia, weight loss, and the loss of speech were the most prominent. This result confirms the findings of Paixão (2010)¹⁹, who explained that dysphagia affects weight loss due to the patient's inability to eat normally.

Based on the data evaluated by this study, only stroke reached a significant level, and most of the evaluated individuals did not require respiratory support and orally consumed soft food. Therefore, care should be taken given that the variables are closely related because swallowing disorders are reflected in chewing difficulties. Because of these conditions, it is necessary to emphasise the importance of an exclusive diet for dysphagia because many of these patients can inhale or experience the laryngeal penetration of food due to inappropriate food consistency²⁵.

As such, the elderly might be more prone to dysphagia after a stroke. Records reveal a greater incidence of dysphagia among elderly patients, noting a relationship between dysphagia and age. The swallowing process as a whole is affected by age, with general changes in the characteristics of this function. Older patients are prone to initial swallowing problems, with an increased mortality rate¹⁹.

In this context, the present study found that the demand for institutional care tends to increase due to population ageing. Multidisciplinary teams are essential to the functioning of the services described. Professionals should be able to offer care according to the demands of the elderly and the type of service offered, especially for an older and fragile population, via the services reviewed^18,26.

Finally, the presence of the speech therapist in the public network (SUS) has propitiated a change incontext because clinical and therapeutic care, which previously was private and restricted to the consulting room, has been adapted to the new institutional realities, and its perspectives and range of activities have expanded. One of these activities is operating in the home environment via public home care programmes and policies that can be implemented and embraced by all other healthcare professionals because in this type of activity, the professional develops activities that facilitate health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation in the home.

Because the home care guidelines are comprehensive and easily adaptable to the needs of each municipality or region, the roles of speech therapists and other health professionals cangreatly vary according to the type of intervention to be performed and the degree of case complexity. As such, the presence of an acting speech therapist or healthcare professional should become increasingly common in Brazil.

According to the profile of the users treated in this service, the importance of including speech therapists is apparent to emphasise the investment in the improvement and enrolment of both professionals and patients. Therefore, it isimportant that new studies are undertaken to facilitate the understanding of healthcare professionals and managers with regard to the topic in question.

Conclusion

The results obtained allow us to conclude that difficulty in swallowing (i.e., dysphagia) is often associated with stroke, predominantly with regard to the sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with males and the elderly. This fact demonstrates the importance of including speech therapy in the HCS Programme of João Pessoa, PB, Brazil, to maintain patient health and quality of life.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Sep-Oct 2018

History

• Received
  17 Apr 2018
• Accepted
  10 Sept 2018