title: Thickened fluids: investigation of users' experiences and perceptions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fluid thickeners are an important and commonly-used strategy to manage swallowing difficulties however there are no reports of the perceptions and experiences of parents of children using thickeners.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews of 14 parents having a child using fluid thickeners due to swallowing difficulties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents reported improvements in quality of life and health through the use of thickeners. They also reported persistent difficulties in the use of thickeners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed unanimous goodwill and positive attitudes towards thickeners and their observed benefits, tempered by common difficulties with thickeners (variability and unpredictability). There remains scope for improvements of commercial thickeners and in information conveyed to users.
authors.affiliation: Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London WC1N 1PF, UK. Electronic address: christina.smith@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Adult Speech and Language Therapy, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK.
authors.forename: Emma M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jebson
authors.affiliation: Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanson
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005503:Food Additives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives
keywords: Children; Fluid thickeners; Health; Modified diets; Quality of life