DEGLUTO: initial validity evidence of a clinical swallowing assessment tool for adults

To develop and verify content validity evidence of DEGLUTO, a clinical swallowing assessment instrument for adults.

A cross-sectional methodological study. The first phase validated the content using the Delphi method with 13 judges, analyzing 28 items and using CVI, CVC, and Kappa for agreement. The second phase evaluated response processes by applying the instrument to 210 adult and elderly patients by ten speech therapists, analyzing application time, acceptability, and inter-rater agreement.

In content validation, seven items were removed and twenty-one reformulated, resulting in 21 items with a mean CVI > 0.90 and substantial to almost perfect agreement. In response processes, a mean application time of 15 minutes, good acceptability, and high agreement on most items were observed. One item was excluded, consolidating the final version with 20 items.

DEGLUTO presented robust initial validity evidence, demonstrating clinical applicability, clarity, and theoretical adequacy, qualifying it as a promising tool for the assessment of oropharyngeal dysphagia in clinical practice.