Poster on Dysphagia-specific Food Procedures: Usability and Impact

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of a poster containing information on dysphagia-specific food procedures at two levels: utility from the point of view of patients' caregivers, and impact on patients' health. Half the patients will have the poster placed in their room, whereas the other half will not.

Detailed Description
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Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder that can be associated with clinically relevant complications, and caregivers can play a fundamental role in this process, namely because they feed the patient. However, studies show a lack of professional-caregiver communication in dysphagia, and caregivers' need for more information. Communicating dysphagia-specific food procedures through a visual poster might bridge professional-caregiver communication gaps, with consequences for the patient's health.

Official Title
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Using a Visual Poster Communicating Dysphagia-specific Food Procedures as a Complementary Means of Information to Caregivers in Inpatient Care: Usability and Impact

Conditions
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Dysphagia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Placement of a poster in patients' rooms


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients with post-acute dysphagia (lesion occurring at least six weeks prior, approximately), remaining in inpatient care for at least one month after the first moment of data collection, 18 years of age or older, receiving regular visits from their family members or caregivers. Exclusion Criteria: Failing to meet inclusion criteria

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Poster<br>A poster with pictorial information about dysphagia-specific food procedures placed in patients' rooms for one month | Device: Placement of a poster in patients' rooms<br>* Patients and their caregivers will be exposed to the poster for one month<br>|
| No Intervention: No poster<br>No poster is placed in patients' room. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in patients' aspiration risk before and after placement of the poster in their rooms | Change in patients' risk of aspiration in dysphagia (with the Gugging Swallowing Screen - GUSS) | 1 month | 
| Change in patients' capacity for oral intake before and after placement of the poster in their rooms | Change in patients' oral intake capacity in dysphagia (with the Functional Oral Intake Scale - FOIS) | 1 month | 
| Change in patients' oral health before and after placement of the poster in their rooms | Change in patients' oral health in dysphagia (with the Oral Health Assessment Tool - OHAT) | 1 month | 
| Change in patients' nutritional health before and after placement of the poster in their rooms | Change in patients' nutritional status in dysphagia (with the Mini Nutritional Assessment - MNA) | 1 month |