Measuring elderly dysphagic patients' performance in eating--a review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Clinical Nutrition
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Dysphagia in elderly patients significantly impacts nutritional status and quality of life.
• Accurate assessment of eating performance is crucial for effective intervention.
• Existing assessment tools vary in their psychometric properties and applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify psychometrically sound assessment tools for measuring eating performance in elderly patients with dysphagia.
• To evaluate the suitability of these tools for clinical practice and research.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of electronic databases, citations, and references was conducted.
• Assessment tools integrating the complexity of the eating process were selected based on predefined criteria.
• Data on tool characteristics and psychometric properties (reliability, validity, responsiveness) were extracted and appraised.

Main Results:

• Eight of fourteen identified tools met inclusion criteria.
• Tools varied in specificity (dementia, stroke, general geriatric/neurological conditions).
• Only two tools demonstrated adequate to excellent psychometric properties.

Conclusions:

• The Minimal Eating Observation Form-Version II (MEOF-II) is recommended for screening.
• 'The McGill Ingestive Skills Assessment' (MISA) is recommended for treatment planning and monitoring.
• Further research is needed to fully establish the psychometric properties of these recommended tools.