Validity and Reliability of Swallowing Screening Tools Used by Nurses for Dysphagia: A Systematic Review
Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Jiang, J. L., Fu, S. Y., et al. (2016).
Tzu Chi Medical Journal, 28(2), 41-48.
This systematic review investigates the validity and reliability of screening tools that can be used by nurses to screen for dysphagia in patients with neurological disorders. Although this does not encompass the full range of swallow screening tools available to speech-language pathologists, conclusions may be relevant for clinicians looking to implement screening protocols or provide training to nursing staff.
Not stated
1992 to 2015
Randomized controlled trials; clinical trials
8
All included studies had methodological limitations upon quality appraisal. However, seven instruments were found that could be administered by nurses and met psychometric quality criteria for reliability, validity, sensitivity and specificity:<ul> <li>Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA);</li> <li>Massey Bedside Swallowing Screen;</li> <li>Dysphagia Screen Tool;</li> <li>Acute Stroke Dysphagia Screen;</li> <li>Yale Swallow Protocol;</li> <li>Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), Korean version; and</li> <li>Nursing Dysphagia Screening Tool.</li></ul>Overall, "the [Standardized Swallowing Assessment] (SSA) with favorable psychometric properties is a suitable screening tool for detecting dysphagia and can be administered by nurses in hospitals" (p. 47).
