Effect of Swallowing Training Rehabilitation Program on Severity of Dysphagia and Swallowing Trial among Patients with Cerebrovascular Stroke

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Damanhur University, Egypt

2 Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Cerebrovascular Stroke (CVS) is a rapidly developing clinical focal
disorder of cerebral function lasting for 24 hours or longer and leading to death, with no
obvious reason other than the vascular source. Aim of the study: was to determine the effect
of swallowing training rehabilitation program on severity of dysphagia and swallowing trial
among patients with cerebrovascular stroke Research design: A quasi experimental research
design with a pretest-posttest control group was utilized. Settings: The study was conducted
at neurological inpatient units at Alexandria University Hospital. This hospital was selected
because flow rate of patients with cerebrovascular stroke was satisfactory for the study.
Subjects: Purposive samples of 60 hospitalized adult patients with CVS were selected
according to eligibility criteria. They were divided into two equal groups 30 in each study
group and control group. Tools of data collection: three tools were used for data collection
namely: Patients' demographic characteristics and clinical data sheet, dysphagia severity
scale and observation checklist to assess swallowing ability during swallow trial: Results:
the study results revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the
study and control groups in favor of the former in relation to severity of dysphagia and
swallowing trial after two weeks and one month of intervention in which the severity of
dysphagia decreases among study group to 20% and 13.3% respectively in level (1) after two
weeks and one month while the severity of dysphagia increases among control group to 40%
and 66.7% respectively in level (1) after two weeks and one month with P = 0 .000.
Conclusion: The study concluded that swallowing training rehabilitation program has
significant positive effect on severity of dysphagia and swallowing trial among patients with
cerebrovascular stroke. Recommendation: The developed booklet with its simple
instructions and illustrations should be utilized in hospitals as a teaching aid for patient with
dysphagia. Periodic health education programs for nurses to create awareness on swallowing
exercises in improving swallowing ability.

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