Dysphagia and daily oral fluids among cerebrovascular stroke patients: an theory-based nursing intervention protocol

Abstract Objective To evaluate the improvement of dysphagia and the daily amounts of oral fluids served among people who had recently experienced a cerebrovascular stroke (CVS) after applying a nursing intervention protocol. Methods A quasi-experimental design was used to examine 60 stroke patients who were randomly and alternatively divided equally into a study group and a control group. Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) and fluid balance chart were used. Within the first 24 h of a patient’s admission, expert nurses were trained in nursing intervention protocol to manage dysphagia and daily oral fluids. Results Post-nursing intervention, the severity of dysphagia decreased among the study group more than in the control group. Additionally, the study group began taking greater amounts of fluids by the oral route than before the nursing intervention. Conclusions A standardized nursing intervention protocol is needed to decrease the severity of dysphagia after CVS and increase the amount of daily oral fluids. The presence of a structured theory-based nursing intervention protocol for dysphagia management will greatly contribute to decreasing the consequences of dysphagia after CVS, and can also be expected to attenuate the effects of aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition; further, it also increases adherence to the protocol by both nurses and patients.