Effect of swallowing organ function training on swallowing function in elderly patients with dysphagia

Objective To explore the effect of swallowing organ function training on swallowing function in elderly patients with dysphagia. Methods By convenient sampling, a total of 80 elderly patients with dysphagia treated in the geriatric ward of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2018 to June 2019 were selected as the research objects. The patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were given routine treatment measures, while patients in the observation group were given 8 weeks of swallowing organ function training on the basis of routine treatment. The scores of Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) and the results of Water Swallow Test (WST) of the two groups were compared before the intervention, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention. Results After the intervention, the SSA scores of the observation group after 4 and 8 weeks of intervention were lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . After 8 weeks of intervention, the efficacy of WST in the observation group was significantly better than that in the control group, and there was statistical difference between the two groups (P<0.05) . Conclusions Swallowing organ function training has good clinical effect in elderly patients with dysphagia. It can improve the quality of life of patients and promote early recovery, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion. Key words: Dysphagia; Aged; Swallowing organ function training