Application of Cluster Nursing Among Post-Stroke Patients with Dysphagia

Objective: To explore the effect of cluster nursing care among post-stroke patients. Methods: Post-stroke patients with dysphagia (n=72) were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (or intervention) (n=36) the control (n=36). Patients in the experimental group were given cluster care, including swallowing assessment, safe eating guide, swallowing rehabilitation, the establishment of cluster prevention strategy and health education to patients and caregivers. Patients in the control group were given conventional nursing care, and the score of swallowing function, the prevalence of aspiration pneumonia and nursing care satisfactory level in both groups were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The swallowing function of patients in the two groups were improved after intervention, but patients in the experimental group showed significantly higher improvement than the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of aspiration pneumonia was significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, the satisfactory level of nursing management was higher in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cluster nursing (CN) practice has significantly improved the swallowing function of stroke patients with dysphagia, reduced the incidence of aspiration pneumonia and enhanced the satisfaction of nursing care.