Screening for swallowing problems in patients admitted to Connaught Hospital with stroke: An early study to assess the practicalities of a proposed bigger study

Evaluation of a nurse-led swallow protocol in the Connaught Hospital Stroke Pathway: a non-randomised pilot study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN16988099

Enrollment

Registered

2022-02-14

Start date

2021-09-07

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2023-05-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Risk of aspiration in people who present to hospital with acute stroke Not Applicable

Interventions

Patient participants will undergo a new nurse-led swallow screening assessment that is designed to check that the participant is well enough to take food, water and medicine through his or her mouth.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Adults =18 years 2. Ischaemic stroke 3. IntraCerebral Haemorrhage 4. Sub Arachnoid Haemorrhage

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. <18 years 2. No consent 3. Transient Ischaemic Attack (focal neurological signs recovering within 24 hours) 4. Known neurological disease with infectious aetiology

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The number of completed screens for aspiration risk measured using case report forms at the end of the study	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Door to screening time measured using patient notes and CRF at baseline 2. Time at potential risk for aspiration measured using CRFs at the end of the study 3. Time spent in each part (1 & 2) of the swallow protocol measured using CRFs at the end of the study 4. Fasting prior to screening measured using patient/caregiver interview and nurse interview at baseline 5. Frequency of enteral feeding prior to protocol administration measured using patient/caregiver interview and nurse interview at baseline 6. Occurrence of enteral feeding (ng tube) after administration of swallow protocol but prior to completion measured using CRFs at the end of the study 7. Frequency of deferred screen (part 1 and part 2) and reasons measured using CRFs at the end of the study 8. Frequency of screens administered and reasons measured using CRFs at the end of the study 9. Frequency of protocols not completed and reasons measured using CRFs at the end of the study 10. Average number of nurse contacts to complete part ‘readiness to participate’ (part 1) of screening form before patient moves on to part 2 measured using CRFs at the end of the study 11. Average length of time it takes to complete the swallow screening protocol from initial screen to final classification of aspiration risk measured using CRFs at the end of the study 12. Evaluation of individual swallow screening components measured using interviews with study nurses and the volunteer speech and language therapist at the end of the study	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Door to screening time measured using patient notes and CRF at baseline 2. Time at potential risk for aspiration measured using CRFs at the end of the study 3. Time spent in each part (1 & 2) of the swallow protocol measured using CRFs at the end of the study 4. Fasting prior to screening measured using patient/caregiver interview and nurse interview at baseline 5. Frequency of enteral feeding prior to protocol administration measured using patient/caregiver interview and nurse interview at baseline 6. Occurrence of enteral feeding (ng tube) after administration of swallow protocol but prior to completion measured using CRFs at the end of the study 7. Frequency of deferred screen (part 1 and part 2) and reasons measured using CRFs at the end of the study 8. Frequency of screens administered and reasons measured using CRFs at the end of the study 9. Frequency of protocols not completed and reasons measured using CRFs at the end of the study 10. Average number of nurse contacts to complete part ‘readiness to participate’ (part 1) of screening form before patient moves on to part 2 measured using CRFs at the end of the study 11. Average length of time it takes to complete the swallow screening protocol from initial screen to final classification of aspiration risk measured using CRFs at the end of the study 12. Evaluation of individual swallow screening components measured using interviews with study nurses and the volunteer speech and language therapist at the end of the study

—

Countries

Sierra Leone

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026