Table 3 Completeness of swallowing outcome measures across time-points for both groups
Measure | Obtained Intervention [INT] no (%) | Obtained Care as usual [CAU] no(%) | Comments or reasons for non-completion – (researcher diary) |
|---|---|---|---|
Baseline (T0) [expected INT = 16, CAU =16] | One patient did not complete questionnaires at appointment, and did not respond to requests to return them at next visit. | ||
FACT | 16 (100) | 15 (94) | |
MDADI | 16 (100) | 15 (94) | |
PSS (normalcy of diet) | 16 (100) | 16 (100) | |
100 mL WST | 16 (100) | 16 (100) | |
FIGS (swallowing) | 16 (100) | 16 (100) | |
MIO (jaw opening) | 16 (100) | 16 (100) | |
One Month (T1) [expected INT =16, CAU = 15] | *100 mL WST - Clinical notes indicate that several patients reported that they were unable to drink continuously at 1-month post treatment, or clinicians felt it was unsafe to ask them to do so. These patients were given a score of zero and still rated complete. | ||
FACT | 13 (81) | 15 (100) | |
MDADI | 13 (81) | 15 (100) | |
PSS | 14 (88) | 14 (93) | |
100 mL WST | *13 (81) | *10 (67) | |
FIGS | 14 (88) | 14 (93) | |
MIO | 14 (88) | 12 (80) | |
Three Months (T2) [expected INT = 15, CAU = 15] | *100 mL WST – As above. Additionally, it was noted that clinicians sometimes did not attempt this measure if the water cooler in the clinic was not working (n = 3) – availability of resources. | ||
FACT | 11 (73) | 12 (75) | Four patients did not attend their 3-month follow-up visit, but did not wish to drop out of the study. |
MDADI | 11 (73) | 12 (75) | |
PSS | 11 (73) | 8 (53) | |
100 mL WST | *8 (53) | *8 (53) | |
FIGS | 11 (73) | 8 (53) | |
MIO | 11 (73) | 8 (53) | |
Six Months (T3) [expected INT =15, CAU =14] | Improvement in collection of most measures in comparison to 3-months as patients were attending for their MBS swallow assessment at the same time as clinical measures were taken. | ||
FACT | 12 (80) | 13 (93) | Due to an unavoidable technical issue (power surge causing loss of exams) **MBS exams could not be rated for 7 patients (INT =4, CAU =3), although for both groups > 70% completed the procedure. |
MDADI | 12 (80) | 13 (93) | |
PSS | 13 (87) | 12 (86) | |
100 mL WST | 13 (87) | 12 (86) | 3 patients declined to have the 6-month MBS (INT = 2, CAU =1) |
FIGS | 13 (87) | 12 (86) | |
MIO | 13 (87) | 12 (86) | |
**MBS Impairment Profile Score | 9 (60) 87 | 10 (71) 93 | |
PAS Score | 9 (60) 87 | 10 (71) 93 |