Creation and Initial Validation of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative Functional Diet Scale.

The survey invited clinicians through social media and websites, so the respondents were self-selected. The number of people who saw or could have completed the survey is unknown. The study could not tell whether respondents scored the cases on their own or with colleagues. Most respondents were speech-language pathologists, so the results may not represent other professions involved in dysphagia care. Professional subgroups were too small to compare directly. The case scenarios were weighted toward nonoral diets or transition from nonoral feeding, and these cases produced the greatest disagreement. The study tested scoring of written cases, not real patient outcomes or dysphagia severity.

The paper is listed as supported by extramural National Institutes of Health research funding. The supplied text does not include an author conflict-of-interest declaration.

Do not read this as evidence that the IDDSI Functional Diet Scale improves patient care or measures dysphagia severity. It was validated against written case scenarios and the Functional Oral Intake Scale, not against patient outcomes. The sample was self-selected and mostly speech-language pathologists.