Table 4.

Attitudes and practices regarding swallowing disorders among 103 nurses who had cared for a hemiplegic patient.

Attitudes and practices	N	%
The nurse considers it necessary to inquire about SD
-Yes	84	81.6
-No	19	18.4
The nurse has identified SD
-by questioning the patient or carers	70	68.0
-by asking the patient to ingest a drink or food	18	17.5
-by combining the two previous measures	12	11.6
-Do not know	3	2.9
The nurse thought he or she had already detected or suspected SD in a hemiplegic patient
-Yes	45	43.7
-No	58	56.3
The nurse has needed to place a NGT in a hemiplegic patient
-Yes	8	7.8
-No	95	92.2
The nurse communicates on the subject with the patient or relatives
-Never	31	30.1
-Often	49	47.6
-Regularly	23	22.3
The nurse advises the patient or relatives
-to try liquid food	38	36.9
-to try semi-liquid food	12	11.7
-to try solid food	1	0.9
-not to swallow anything for the moment	21	20.4
-no advice	31	30.1
The nurse informs superiors of the existence or not of SD in a patient to be admitted
-No	43	41.7
-Often	24	23.3
-Regularly	36	35.0

SD: swallowing disorders, NGT: nasogastric tube.