Promoting evidence-based dysphagia assessment and management by nurses.

The Ottawa Model of Research Use guided the Hospital Elder Life Program nursing staff at a community hospital in promoting dysphagia assessment and management. The effect of an educational program and educational outreach on nurses' knowledge retention and nurse-initiated speech language pathology (SLP) referrals were assessed. The sample consisted of 122 nurses. Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences among the pretest and posttests immediately after and at 2 and 6 months later (F[3,70] = 10.126, p < 0.001). Nurses were more likely to initiate SLP referrals after the program. Improving practice requires stakeholder engagement and multiple strategies to sustain change.