Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models
Published on: March 1, 2015
Diagnostic accuracy of the Dysphagia Trained Nurse Assessment tool in acute stroke
Jacqueline K Benfield1,2, Gwenllian Wilkinson1, Lisa F Everton1
1Stroke Trials Unit, Division of Mental Health and Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Derby, UK.
Background And Purpose:
Comprehensive swallow screening assessments to identify dysphagia and make early eating and drinking recommendations can be used by trained nurses. This study aimed to validate the Dysphagia Trained Nurse Assessment (DTNAx) tool in acute stroke patients.
Methods:
Participants with diagnosed stroke were prospectively and consecutively recruited from an acute stroke unit. Following a baseline DTNAx on admission, participants underwent a speech and language therapist (SLT) bedside assessment of swallowing (speech and language therapist assessment [SLTAx]), videofluoroscopy (VFS) and a further DTNAx by the same or a different nurse.
Results:
Forty-seven participants were recruited, of whom 22 had dysphagia. Compared to SLTAx in the identification of dysphagia, DTNAx had a sensitivity of 96.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 83.8-99.9) and specificity of 89.5% (95% CI 75.2-97.1). Compared to VFS in the identification of aspiration, DTNAx had a sensitivity of 77.8% (95% CI 40.0-97.2) and a specificity of 81.6% (95% CI 65.7-92.3). Over 81% of the diet and fluid recommendations made by the dysphagia trained nurses were in absolute agreement compared to SLTAx. Both DTNAx and SLTAx had low diagnostic accuracy compared to the VFS-based definition of dysphagia.
Conclusions:
Nurses trained in DTNAx showed good diagnostic accuracy in identifying dysphagia compared to SLTAx and in identifying aspiration compared to VFS. They made appropriate diet and fluid recommendations in line with SLTs in the early management of dysphagia.
