Discussion of Findings Regarding Dysphagia Screening

Dysphagia Screening
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Dysphagia Screening
Discussion of Findings
The study engaged nurses in three different healthcare settings to establish the effectiveness of early dysphagia screening in reducing stroke-associated pneumonia. The nurses were using water swallow for dysphagia screening among stroke patients. The number of passes and fails among screened patients was recorded. The project findings revealed that most of the patients who passed the water swallow test did not experience aspiration. In contrast, many of the patients who failed the test experienced aspiration and stroke-related pneumonia. This is an indication that early dysphagia screening significantly reduces the risk of aspiration pneumonia among stroke patients.
Most nurses noted that the water swallow test was easy to use and less time-consuming. One nurse said, "I think this water swallow test is a time-saver. It allows me to offer my patients the best care without worrying about the time I spend administering the test." Another noted that "it took me under a minute to perform the test, and then I was ready for the next task for my patient." They also noted its effectiveness in determining whether a stroke patient will develop aspiration and stroke-associated pneumonia. A nurse said that "all of the patients who passed the test did not aspire. At least the test helped identify those at risk of developing stroke-associated pneumonia and those not at risk.” Another nurse shared that she was “able to protect her patients from aspiration, thanks to the water swallow test.”
This feedback reveals that the perceived complexity or ease of performing dysphagia screening may impact nurses' incorporation of early dysphagia screening among stroke patients into routine practice. Most nurses seemed concerned about the time taken to incorporate early dysphagia screening, mainly because no standardized dysphagia screening protocol exists, and every facility uses its protocol. However, they were able to appreciate the ease of use and time-saving aspects of the water swallow screen. Second, the feedback revealed that early dysphagia screening is a best practice in nursing that can be used as an intervention to prevent stroke-associated pneumonia. These findings align with Palli et al. (2017), who found that nurse-led early dysphagia screening reduces the rate of stroke-associated pneumonia. It also supports the findings of Okuni and Ebihara (2022) and Sherman et al. (2021), who found that early dysphagia screening predicts aspiration and prevents stroke-associated pneumonia.
The project has two main limitations. One, the study was conducted in different settings, namely stroke ...