Dysphagia Rehabilitation
Conditions
Keywords
mobile application, digital therapeutics
Brief summary
Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder characterized by impaired transfer of food or liquid from the oral cavity through the pharynx and esophagus, leading to significant nutritional, respiratory, and quality-of-life consequences. Despite these advances, existing dysphagia rehabilitation programs are largely limited to specific disease groups, restricting their generalizability. In clinical practice, dysphagia arises from diverse etiologies, including stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and other neurological or muscular conditions, which share common rehabilitation goals such as safe swallowing, aspiration prevention, and maintenance of oral intake. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a novel mobile-based digital therapeutic (DTx) application for dysphagia rehabilitation across a clinically heterogeneous population. The DTx platform leverages mobile device camera signals to provide real-time feedback, structured reminders, and quantitative monitoring of self-directed training. We hypothesized that integrating this DTx into dysphagia care would enhance patient engagement, adherence, and swallowing-related outcomes. The findings of this study are expected to inform future large-scale trials and support the broader implementation of digital therapeutics in dysphagia rehabilitation.
Interventions
DEVICEPallow, mobile-based digital therapeutic (DTx)
mobile-based digital therapeutic (DTx) application designed for swallowing rehabilitation
Sponsors
Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This was a single-center, prospective, case series pilot study. Participants were diagnosed as dysphagia after VFSS. Two sessions of swallowing therapy and digital therapeutic (DTx) education were conducted by an occupational therapist to familiarize the participant. Each participant then performed individualized home-based swallowing exercises using the DTx application for 4 weeks, three times daily. The individuals allowed a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility and applicability of the mobile-based digital therapeutic intervention across a broad spectrum of dysphagia etiologies. The primary outcome of this study was the assessment of airway protection using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) evaluated through videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS).
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Aged ≥18 years with dysphagia from head and neck cancer surgery/chemotherapy, cerebrovascular/neurodegenerative diseases, or neuromuscular diseases 2. Swallowing difficulty, indicated by Penetration-Aspiration Score (PAS) ≥2 by VFSS 3. Ability to sit for more than 30 minutes 4. no significant cognitive impairment and mobile device access (MMSE\>24)
Exclusion criteria
1. Participants who need hospitalization (e.g. pneumonia) 2. Requirement of surgical treatment during the study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) | From enrollment to the end of intervention at 4 weeks | Penetration and aspiration are evaluated using an 8-point scale during a Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) to determine the severity of airway invasion. Scores range from 1 (normal) to 8 (material passes below the vocal folds with no effort to eject). The higher the score, the more severe the dysphagia. |
Countries
South Korea
Outcome results
None listed