You can do it: Outcomes from a student-led dysphagia telerehabilitation using Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) amongst Head & Neck Cancer survivors

Tracks
Concurrent session W1
Adult
Cancer
Dysphagia
Head and neck
Swallowing
Telepractice
Therapy
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
11:10 AM - 11:25 AM
BelleVue Ballroom 02

Overview

Katrina Blyth


Details

⏫ Research insights
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)


Presenter

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Dr Katrina Blyth
Lecturer & Researcher
The University Of Sydney

You can do it: Outcomes from a student-led dysphagia telerehabilitation using Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) amongst Head & Neck Cancer survivors

11:10 AM - 11:25 AM

Presentation summary

Purpose: Expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is a non-invasive, low cost, evidence-based treatment that improves swallowing in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. EMST is traditionally delivered in-person with a speech pathologist. This requires significant clinician time and travel burden and costs for clients. This implementation study evaluated the effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility of a new student-led telehealth EMST program for HNC survivors.
Methodology: HNC survivors (n = 13) completed 8 weeks of EMST via telehealth with supervised speech pathology students (n = 13). Pre-and post-treatment measures of swallowing efficiency (Timed Water Swallow Test, TWST), peak flow, and quality of life (SwalQoL) were recorded as well as participant and student satisfaction. Feasibility (i.e., technical issues and session duration) was monitored weekly. All data was collected using REDCap and analysed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics.
Results: Swallowing efficiency significantly improved, including number of swallows (p= 0.02), time taken (p<0.01), and swallowing rate (p=<0.01), as measured by the TWST. There were no significant changes to peak flow or SwalQoL scores.
Following the 104 EMST sessions, participants strongly agreed 80.8% (n = 84) they were satisfied, and their expectations had been met 79.8% (n = 83). Following the block of therapy, 77% (n = 10) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that telehealth was more convenient and less disruptive to daily activities than if done in-person.
Technical issues occurred in 20% of sessions and un-planned student support from clinical educators occurred in 15% of sessions. The average duration of initial sessions was 44 minutes with the remaining weekly sessions taking an average of 27 minutes.
Conclusion: This new model of dysphagia telerehabilitation for HNC survivors was acceptable, feasible and effective. These preliminary findings support scalability and monitoring of the program in the healthcare system.

Key messages

1. Impact of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) to swallowing function
2. Benefit of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) for HNC survivors
3. Effectiveness of using student-led telerehabilitation to deliver EMST

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Katrina’s clinical, teaching, and research interests are in rehabilitation of dysphagia, speech and voice, particularly amongst Head and Neck Cancer survivors.

Session chair

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Lisa Furlong


Student volunteer(s)

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Rania Atee
Curtin University

Tanvi Patel
Curtin University

The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.

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