Daily Challenges and Resources of Adults with Chronic Dysphagia: A Qualitative Investigation.
Aurora Ninfa, Giulia Morandi, Antonio Schindler and 1 others
PMID 39377795WHAT IT FOUND
Most adults with long-term swallowing problems described challenges beyond physical swallowing, including mealtime routines, food choices and social eating.
Many relied on practical coping and family support, while some wanted coordinated swallowing teams.
Key findings
01Twenty-four of 25 participants reported daily challenges from chronic swallowing problems, and the challenges were grouped into physical, practical, psychological and social themes.
02Twenty-two participants described problem-focused coping strategies, such as eating smaller bites, eating more slowly, choosing softer foods and organising meal preparation.
03Ten participants said healthcare services were inappropriate for their needs because they had to see multiple specialists in different hospitals.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study interviewed 25 adults at one Phoniatrics clinic in Northern Italy, so the themes may not fit patients in other healthcare systems or cultures. Participants had different causes of dysphagia, including head and neck cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, so the paper does not show how challenges differ by diagnosis. The cross-sectional design cannot show cause or change over time. Participants with cognitive decline or psychiatric comorbidity were excluded, so findings may not apply to people with those conditions. Interviews were conducted in person or by video call, and the effect of the setting on responses was unknown. The team did not perform member checking with participants.
Declared interests
The study was funded by Università degli Studi di Milano. The supplied text does not report any other conflict-of-interest declaration.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that any swallowing treatment works or that coping causes better adjustment. The study only describes what 25 adults said about their daily challenges and resources, and its cross-sectional design cannot show cause or effect.