Thickened fluids: investigation of users' experiences and perceptions.

BACKGROUND & AIMS 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.