Abstract
Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a widespread condition in older people and thus poses a serious health threat to the residents of nursing homes. The management of dysphagia relies mainly on compensatory strategies, such as diet and environmental modification. This study investigated the efficacy of an intervention program using a single-arm interventional study design. Twenty-two participants from nursing homes were included and had an average of 26 hours of intervention, including oromotor exercises, orosensory stimulation and exercises to target dysphagia and caregiver training. Four of the 22 participants exhibited improvement in functional oral intake scale (FOIS) but was not statistically significant as a group. All oromotor function parameters, including the range, strength, and coordination of movements, significantly improved. These results indicate that this intervention program could potentially improve the oromotor function, which were translated into functional improvements in some participants’ recommended diets. The validity of this study could be improved further by using standardized swallowing and feeding assessment methods or an instrumental swallowing assessment.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the input from staff members at the Cheung Fat Home for the Elderly, Shun Lee Home for the Elderly, Chin Wah Day Care Centre for the Elderly, and Sham Shui Po Day Care Centre for the Elderly, as well as the speech therapists affiliated with the Hong Kong Christian Service.
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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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This study was based on a pilot project, the “Good to Taste: Swallowing Enhancement Project for Elderly,” carried out by the Hong Kong Christian Service. This pilot project was supported financially by The Community Chest of Hong Kong. The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the preparation of the manuscript; or in the review or approval of the manuscript.
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Fong, R., Wong, S.W.K., Chan, J.K.L. et al. Efficacy of a Comprehensive Dysphagia Intervention Program Tailored for the Residents of Nursing Homes. J Frailty Aging 10, 156–159 (2021). https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2020.56
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2020.56