KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCIES OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE RECOGNITION AND DIAGNOSIS OF FEEDING, SUCKING, AND SWALLOWING DISORDERS

The aim of the study was to examine the level of knowledge and awareness of healthcare professionals regarding feeding, sucking, and swallowing disorders, as well as their understanding of the role of speech and language therapists in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. The study was conducted on a sample of 51 healthcare professionals from public and private healthcare institutions in the Una-Sana Canton, using a questionnaire specifically designed for the purposes of this research.According to the results, 56.9% of respondents had received formal education on dysphagia, while only 27.5% had undergone training in the field of pediatric feeding disorders. Clinical experience with dysphagia was reported by 64.7% of respondents, whereas experiencewith pediatric feeding disorders was reported by 25.5%. Although 68.6% of respondents reported being familiar with the distinction between the terms “dysphagia” and “feeding disorders,” only 29.4% demonstrated a professionally grounded understanding of these concepts.Participation in diagnostic procedures related to pediatric feeding disorders was reported by 9.8% of respondents, while 7.8% reported participation in therapeutic interventions. In cases of dysphagia, 35.3% of respondents reported involvement in diagnostic procedures, whereas 17.6% participated in therapeutic treatment. Only 7.8% of respondents identified the speech and language therapist as a key member of the multidisciplinary team.Respondents also assessed the strengthening of knowledge on pediatric feeding disorders and dysphagia as being of high professional importance. The results indicate significant gaps in knowledge, education, and clinical involvement among healthcare professionals, particularly regarding the recognition of the roleof speech and language therapists, while respondents simultaneously express a high level of readiness for further professional development. These findings highlight the need for continuous and systematic education, as well as for strengthening interprofessional collaboration.Keywords: dysphagia; pediatric feeding disorders; healthcare professionals’ knowledge and competencies; speech-language pathology; multidisciplinary team