Screening for the identification of dysphagia in adults and older adults: a factor analysis

Individuals 18 or older referred for a videofluoroscopic clinical swallowing study, the reference standard diagnostic method for oropharyngeal dysphagia, were included using convenience sampling. Eligible participants were required to be fully alert, understand and respond to verbal commands, and be capable of feeding themselves without assistance. Individuals with a formal medical diagnosis of significant cognitive decline that impaired their ability to participate meaningfully were excluded. The presence of neurological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases or post-stroke status was not an exclusion criterion, provided the participant retained adequate cognitive and communicative capacity to respond independently without caregiver assistance. Participants had to provide self-reported information based on their perceptions and experiences; responses provided by caregivers or proxies were not accepted. Individuals with clinical instability or allergy to barium were not considered eligible for the study. The sample consisted of 288 participants, with a median age of 67.5 years (IQR: 56.0; 77.0). In total, 155 people had oropharyngeal dysphagia, representing 53.8% of the sample.