Exercise-Based Dysphagia Treatment: A Proposed Checklist

Abstract

Purpose: Oropharyngeal swallowing exercise-based interventions are frequently utilized to target physiologic mechanisms with the goal of improving swallowing function. However, study replicability and evidence synthesis regarding effects of interventions are limited due to inconsistent reporting on factors known to influence treatment delivery. In order to promote consistency of reporting factors associated with replicability, the authors constructed a set of preferred parameters focused on dysphagia as part of the initial version of the larger tool (Framework for RigOr aNd Transparency In REseaRch on Swallowing or FRONTIERS). Method: Thirty-eight initial questions were assembled by the authors as part of the treatment subsection. Questions were then reviewed by individuals in the FRONTIERS collaborative who have expertise in research, clinical practice, or both. Result: Twenty-four questions were removed following review, reducing the final set of treatment-focused questions to 14 questions. Conclusions: The revised set of questions provides users of the exercise-based treatment section of the FRONTIERS checklist with an initial checklist to promote transparency and rigor to improve study replicability and evidence synthesis. We intend for this treatment section of FRONTIERS to undergo further refinement following commentary and feedback.