The Effect of Swallowing Exercise and Maneuver Program For Older Adults With Dysphagia in Nursing Home

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Oropharyngeal Dysphagia; Frailty-related Dysphagia; Nursing Homes; Swallowing Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT07049471
• Lead Sponsor: Indonesia University

Brief Summary

This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured swallowing exercise and maneuver program for older adults with dysphagia living in a nursing home. Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, is common in elderly populations and may lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia.

In this study, 72 participants aged 60 years and older were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received a combined swallowing exercise and maneuver program-including Masako Maneuver, Chin Tuck Against Resistance, Supraglottic Swallow, and Super-Supraglottic Swallow-performed three times daily before meals over a six-week period. The control group received standard care, including upright sitting posture during meals.

Swallowing ability was measured using the EAT-10 questionnaire. The intervention group showed significant improvement in swallowing scores, while no meaningful changes were observed in the control group. This study suggests that nurse-led swallowing exercises can be a safe, simple, and effective strategy to improve swallowing function and quality of life in older adults living in long-term care settings.

Detailed Description

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a prevalent condition among older adults, particularly in institutionalized settings such as nursing homes. It is often underdiagnosed, misattributed to normal aging, and leads to serious complications including aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and diminished quality of life. Despite its high burden, non-pharmacological interventions tailored to this population in Indonesia remain limited.

This randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the effectiveness of a structured swallowing exercise and maneuver program for older adults with dysphagia in a long-term care facility. The intervention integrated both pharyngeal element-based exercises (Masako Maneuver and Chin Tuck Against Resistance) and behavioral-based exercises (Supraglottic Swallow and Super-Supraglottic Swallow). These exercises were delivered as a video-guided program and administered three times per day before meals over six weeks by trained nursing staff.

Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using a simple random sampling method. The control group received standard care without swallowing exercises. Outcomes were measured using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), a validated instrument for identifying clinically significant swallowing problems.

This study aimed to provide empirical evidence for the use of structured, nurse-delivered swallowing training as an effective and feasible approach to managing dysphagia among the elderly in nursing homes. It also explored the potential for routine implementation and integration into geriatric nursing practice across similar institutional care settings.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Study First Submitted: 2025-06-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-06-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-25
• Study First Posted: 2025-07-03
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-03
• Study Start: 2025-07-10
• Primary Completion: 2025-08-31
• Study Completion: 2025-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 72

Inclusion Criteria

• aged 60 years or older
• experiencing swallowing difficulties as assessed by the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10)
• having no history of neurological disease
• possessing adequate communication abilities
• and being capable of performing daily activities either independently or with partial assistance

Exclusion Criteria

• individuals with dermatological conditions in the anterior neck region, hypertension, orofacial pain such as trigeminal neuropathy or toothache, as well as those with significant malocclusion or facial asymmetry

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improvement in Swallowing Function Measured by EAT-10 Score	Baseline (Day 0) and Week 6 (Post-intervention)	Swallowing function is assessed using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), a validated 10-item self-report questionnaire for identifying symptoms of dysphagia. Each item is scored from 0 (no problem) to 4 (severe problem), with a total possible score ranging from 0 to 40. A score of 3 or more indicates clinically significant dysphagia. The primary outcome is the change in EAT-10 scores from baseline (prior to intervention) to the end of the 6-week intervention period. A decrease in score reflects improvement in swallowing function.
Change in Swallowing Function as Measured by EAT-10 Score	Baseline and 6 weeks after intervention initiation	Swallowing function was assessed using the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), a validated 10-item questionnaire designed to identify symptoms of dysphagia. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0-4), with total scores ranging from 0 to 40. A score ≥3 indicates clinically significant swallowing difficulty. The primary outcome is the change in total EAT-10 score from baseline (pre-intervention) to the end of the 6-week intervention period. A greater reduction in the EAT-10 score indicates an improvement in swallowing function.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Nursing Universitas Indonesia; 🇮🇩 Depok, West Java, Indonesia