Factors associated with adherence to swallowing therapy among patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal dysphagia

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess disparities in adherence to swallowing therapy for clinically diagnosed oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) patients.

Methods

Analysis was conducted on data from 600 patients with OD and confirmed impairments in swallowing safety and/or efficiency on a videofluoroscopic swallow study. Patients were classified based on their adherence to treatment sessions, defined as the number of swallow treatment sessions attended. The outcome of treatment adherence was categorized into two groups: those who attended fewer than 50% of the prescribed treatment sessions and those who attended 50% or more of the sessions. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation or median ± interquartile range. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson chi-square tests and Fisher's exact test when appropriate. Univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were employed to identify factors associated with successful adherence.

Results

Approximately 79% adhered to swallowing treatment. We found no significant relationship between adherence and age, sex, race, ethnicity, primary language, marital status, insurance status, occupation, median income, distance, education, OD severity, and diagnosis year (p > 0.05). We found no covariables to be significant predictors to swallowing treatment nonadherence in both univariable and multivariable binary regression models (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The variables analyzed in this study were not significantly associated with nonadherence to swallow therapy. Nevertheless, our study still addressed an important knowledge gap and future studies would benefit from exploring other relevant socioeconomic and disease-related factors.

Level of evidence

Level 4.