The use of pulse oximetry to detect dysphagia in ALD: Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of pulse oximetry to detect dysphagia in adults with learning disabilities: A feasibility study
IRAS ID
128352
Contact name
Alison Mullen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
Research summary
Title: The use of pulse oximetry to detect dysphagia in adults with learning disabilities: A feasibility study.
Dysphagia (physical difficulty with eating, drinking and/or swallowing) is common in adults with learning disabilities (ALD). If undetected it can result in malnutrition, dehydration, poor immunity, depression, asphyxiation (choking), aspiration pneumonia and consequent death. Standard clinical assessment involves predominantly observational assessment of individuals at mealtimes. This has been estimated to miss 1/3 of aspiration events (where food or fluid enters the airway), Linden et al, 1993. Additional assessment tools exist, including videofluoroscopy (moving X-ray of swallowing), but they either have significant limitations for the ALD population or do not hold a strong evidence base.
Evidence suggests that measures of blood oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry can help discriminate between people with dysphagia and people without dysphagia and may help to identify aspiration. However, no studies have yet focused on the ALD population. Investigating the use of pulse oximetry in ALD is of particular importance given that aspiration pneumonia is the most common cause of premature death in the ALD population (Kando et al, 2005).
This study aims to investigate the possibility of using pulse oximetry alongside observational assessment to help identify swallowing difficulties in ALD.
Individuals will be:
1) Screened prior to assessment for current and historical signs of dysphagia using a pre-existing screening tool.
2) Assessed at a mealtime whilst being attached to a pulse oximeter (using a finger probe) for 10 minutes before, throughout, and 10 minutes after the mealtime. This assessment will be video recorded.
3) Participants acceptability and carer's views of step 2 will be obtained immediately following stage 2.
Step 2 will take place in the individual's home or at the local day centre.
Pulse oximeter readings will be downloaded to a computer, analysed using pulse oximetry software and then analysed in SPSS.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NE/0331
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion