Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation for Frail Elders with Dysphagia

Summary

The goal of this proof-of-concept study is to assess the potential of a newly developed intervention with combined skill- and strength-based principles for maximizing swallowing-related outcomes and prevent further weakening of the swallowing muscles in older people with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).

The main questions to be answered are:

1. Does the intervention produce clinically significant improvement in ingestive skills during meals in older individuals with dysphagia?
2. Does the intervention produce clinically significant improvements in tongue strength and orofacial function in older persons with dysphagia?
3. Does the intervention produce clinically significant improvements in nutritional status and quality of life in older individuals with dysphagia?
4. Is there an association between perceived autonomy support and intervention engagement when older individuals with dysphagia receive the intervention during hospitalization and continued in community-based rehabilitation after discharge?

Participants will be asked to perform goal-directed and task-specific swallowing exercises in eating and drinking activities where the intensity variables include advancing steps of an altered bolus volume and consistency according to a 17-level task hierarchy, which are introduced according to predetermined progression rules, as well as increases in swallowing repetitions. The dosage is 2-3 individual, face-to-face therapy sessions per week for up to a maximum of eight weeks. A therapy session lasts up to 45 min. In between therapy sessions, participants integrate the achieved level from therapy into their daily meals as self-training.

Conditions

• Dysphagia, Oropharyngeal
• Deglutition Disorders

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

ACT-ING program ( Activity-based skill- and strength training to improve ingestion)

The intervention is based on a client-centered Occupational therapy task-oriented approach, in which real objects are employed in a realistic context. The intervention uses the effortful swallowing in combination with advancing steps of liquid and food items as resistive forces to challenge the swallow in a safe environment during eating and drinking activities. Progression is realized based on pre-determined progression rules to ensure the right challenges in combination with safety (Hansen et al, 2023).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hvidovre University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tina Hansen, PhD · Hvidovre University Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-08-07

Primary Completion

2025-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations