Validation and Reliability testing of a Nurse Dysphagia Assessment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF A DYSPHAGIA TRAINED NURSE ASSESSMENT (DTNAX) TOOL IN ACUTE STROKE
IRAS ID
216475
Contact name
Tim England
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 27 days
Research summary
Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) at Royal Derby Hospital (RDH) have developed a tool that trained nurses can use to carry out swallowing assessments with patients following a stroke. It consists of checks to ensure the patient is alert/well enough, checks any abnormalities in the muscles of the mouth or throat and trials different types of foods/drinks. If they ‘pass’ the assessment patients are started with regular diet and fluids. If they fail on parts of the test the nurses can recommend easy to swallow foods/drinks. If the patients fail with all trials – they remain nil by mouth. Around 50% of patients who have a stroke have difficulties swallowing (dysphagia). If dysphagia is identified early it reduces secondary complications such as pneumonia. There are no similar tools in the UK that have been tested to check they are doing what they say they are doing (validity) or the results are the same no matter which trained nurse uses the tool (reliability). This study aims to test the validity and reliability of the Dysphagia Trained Nurse Assessment DTNAx that is currently used in the acute stroke pathway at RDH.
Over an 18 month period we aim to recruit 50 patients admitted to RDH with a new stroke. We are aiming for 25 patients who pass the DTNAx and 25 who fail the DTNAx. The results of the DTNAx will be compared to the gold standard dysphagia assessment – videofluoroscopy – a video xray of swallowing and also compared to the usual SLT assessment. We can calculate whether the tool identifies dysphagia, whether the recommendations made by using the tool are accurate and safe. To test reliability – the DTNAx will be repeated by the same nurse and by a different nurse. The patients will be involved in the study for approximately 24 hours.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0209
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion