A multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and rehabilitation program for dysphagia in general hospitals

Biosci Trends. 2024 Apr 10. doi: 10.5582/bst.2024.01076. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Dysphagia is a common complication of various clinical conditions, with an increased incidence as age advances. Complications such as aspiration, malnutrition, and aspiration pneumonia caused by dysphagia significantly affect the overall treatment outcomes of patients. Scholars both domestically and internationally are increasingly focusing on early rehabilitation for dysphagia. This article summarizes common conditions causing dysphagia, clinical manifestations, complications, screening assessment, diagnosis, rehabilitation, and nutritional support related to dysphagia. It emphasizes the arrival at a multidisciplinary collaborative diagnosis and formulation of a rehabilitation management plan for dysphagia in general hospitals in order to provide strategic suggestions for establishing a multidisciplinary collaborative model for swallowing disorder management in general hospitals.

Keywords: dysphagia; general hospitals; management; multidisciplinary collaboration.