Validation of a Revised Version of the Danish McGill Ingestive Skills Assessment

This study will assess the construct validity of a revised version of MISA-DK in the acute and rehabilitative settings by testing it for fit against a multidimensional Rasch model.

Participants in this research will be 500 dysphagic clients from several centres in Denmark, namely 250 acute patients from three Danish Regional university Hospitals in Herning, Hjørring and Odense, and 250 clients in the rehabilitation setting from the Århus Rehabilitation Institute, Hillerød Rehabilitation Institute and the Rehabilitation division of Copenhagen.

Participants who are judged to have a swallowing problem are assessed with the MISA-DK by special educated occupational therapists The MISA-DK assessment are implemented as a part of the usual assessment routine at the occupational therapy departments at the included centres and will be administered immediately after referral to Occupational therapy. This research will be the first to implement and assess a standardised method for assessing mealtime performance for dysphagia in dysphagic patients across the continuum of diagnosis and rehabilitation recovery.

The application of the Multidimensional Rasch models to the MIS-DK data aims to identify the combination of items in the MISA-DK that provide the highest level of specific objectivity and statistical sufficiency when determining ingestive skill ability. Furthermore, Differential item function by diagnosis, age and setting will be determined.

Inclusion criteria

• Have a history of swallowing difficulties associated with aging and/or previous or current diagnosis of, but not limited to head and neck cancer (treatment may include surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, or a combination of more than one), stroke, cervical spine abnormality, brain tumor, cardiovascular surgery, Parkinson's disease or multi-morbidity.

• Fulfils five criteria for direct swallowing evaluation: able to remain alert for at least 15 minutes; able to sit in a chair or bed in at least a 60° upright position, able to swallow saliva, able to cough voluntarily, able to clear the throat twice.
• Have the capacity to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• The clients are excluded in case of: no dysphagia, known severe cognitive impairment, terminally illness (predicted survival less than 6 months), known contraindications to ingest foods or liquids, poorly controlled psychosis, inability to read consent form; inability or unwillingness to give written informed content.