Chin Tuck Against Resistance with Feedback: Swallowing Rehabilitation in Frail Older People (CTAR-SwiFt) - A feasibility study a Research for Patient Benefit
Investigators: Lydia Morgan, Aoife Stone, David Smithard
Timescale: September 2021- May 2023
Funder: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit
Swallowing problems are more common in the frail population. Many frail older people admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) will have aspirated saliva or food (90%).
If the swallow can be improved by a simple exercise thereby improving nutrition and reducing aspiration, it may be possible CAP, loss of independence, infection and death and hence reduce health care costs will be reduced.
This is a feasibility randomised control study of two types of rehabilitation exercises using Chin Tuck against resistance with feedback (CTAR-SwiFt), using a device called ExerPhager (a rubber ball with pressure gauge, linked to a tablet via Bluetooth) to improve swallowing, eating and drinking. BSLTRU have with the main study site (Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust) to recruit patients with pneumonia to this study.
Lydia is Principle Investigator for North Bristol Trust as well as the research associate for this study.
Recruitment has closed for thus study and analysis is ongoing.