Aim: The aim was to develop and implement in practice a simple nursing dysphagia screening tool (NDST). Methods and Sample: In Phase 1, a total of 157 patients prone to dysphagia underwent a nursing swallowing assessment (32 items). The results were compared with the objective flexible endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES). Nursing assessment items with a statistically significant relationship to FEES became the NDST items. In Phase 2, the effectiveness of an educational session on the NDST’s correct use was studied, using a knowledge post-test. Seventy nurses or university students attended the session. In Phase 3, the NDST’s inter-rater reliability was studied on a sample of 42 patients with cerebrovascular accident, using coefficient kappa (κ). Results: Eight items were selected for the NDST; its sensitivity (95.5%) and negative predictive value (88.9%) were high in the neurological subgroup. The average success rate of the knowledge post-test was 73.8%. The overall inter-rater reliability was low (κ = 0.264; p = 0.047); however, substantial agreement was reached for selected items. Conclusion: The NDST is the only dysphagia screening tool developed in the Czech Republic; its diagnostic criteria are high. Current work focuses on fine-tuning education and supporting its implementation.

Faculty of Health Studies University of Pardubice

Vision for dysphagia screening by nurses [elektronický zdroj] /

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