Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Ebru Umay1, Damla Cankurtaran1, Nihal Tezel1

  • 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Health Sciences, Ankara Etlik Integrated Health Campus, Ankara, Turkey.

Clinical Pediatrics
|April 9, 2024
PubMed

Insights

The Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) is a valid and reliable tool for identifying dysphagia risk in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This screening tool demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

  • Children with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently experience dysphagia, impacting their health and quality of life.
  • Accurate and reliable screening tools are essential for early detection and intervention of dysphagia in pediatric CP populations.
  • The Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) is a potential tool, but its suitability for children with CP requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the suitability of the Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  • To assess the Turkish validity and reliability of the PDRSI in a pediatric CP cohort.
  • To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Turkish version of the PDRSI (T-PDRSI).

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 126 children with CP participated in the study.
  • Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, item deletion analysis, and item-to-total correlations.
  • Inter-rater reliability was evaluated using Cohen's kappa coefficient, and construct validity was assessed. Flexible fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FFES) was used for ROC analysis.

Main Results:

  • The PDRSI demonstrated adequate internal consistency and inter-rater reliability in children with CP.
  • Construct validity was confirmed, indicating the instrument measures the intended construct.
  • The T-PDRSI exhibited high sensitivity and specificity when compared against FFES findings.

Conclusions:

  • The Pediatric Dysphagia Risk Screening Instrument (PDRSI) is a valid and reliable tool for screening dysphagia risk in children with cerebral palsy.
  • The Turkish version of the PDRSI is suitable for use in this population, offering high diagnostic accuracy.
  • The PDRSI can aid clinicians in the early identification of swallowing difficulties in children with CP, facilitating timely interventions.