Awareness is the first and key phase of the IDDSI implementation model and the IDDSI Board of Directors has been engaged in a number of initiatives to increase awareness. A very successful awareness initiative was the strong IDDSI presence at the Dysphagia Research Society Meeting held in Portland Oregon USA March 1-4, 2017.  This meeting draws clinicians of all disciplines and researchers from around the world to share information about new and exciting research in the field of dysphagia.

Dr. Catriona Steele presented a paper entitled the Psychometric Evaluation of a New Functional Diet Scale for Dysphagia (IDDSI-FDS – Functional Diet Scale) which generated considerable interest among the audience. We offer our congratulations to Dr. Steele who was the DRS 2017 recipient of the AB-SSD DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD IN DYSPHAGIA for her presentation.

We were also thrilled that IDDSI was mentioned in both paper and poster presentations as this demonstrates that the IDDSI framework is proving to be useful to clinicians and researchers around the world.

An IDDSI booth was also set up at the conference and we were extremely excited by the interest and amount of traffic that we received.  We handed out information sheets, IDDSI pens and sample flow test syringes.  Participants had the opportunity to observe the flow test in action.  Over 300 people registered to receive the IDDSI communications.  A number of participants kindly agreed to be recorded giving their feedback and impressions of the IDDSI framework and we will be posting these on our website in the near future.