Examining The Effect Of Implementing A Standardized Approach For The Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS)

Abstract only. Background: Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) can lead to devastating outcomes. Standardizing the modified barium swallow study (MBSS), an assessment of swallowing can directly impact health. Despite the development and validation of a standardized approach to the MBSS assessment, no direct evidence exists describing the effect of implementing this standardized approach on protocol delivery and clinical documentation. Purpose: To determine the effect of implementing a standardized MBSS approach on protocol delivery and clinical documentation in a hospital not currently utilizing a protocol. Methods: By training clinical speech-language pathologists, this implementation study compared variables for protocol delivery and clinical documentation before and after implementation of a standardized MBSS approach in a large acute care hospital. Results: Comparative analysis to be completed for continuous variables. Paired t-tests for parametric data and Mann-Whitney U tests for non-parametric data to be conducted. Relative and mean change to be reported. Data collection for this URC-supported study is ongoing; initial findings suggest that practice patterns were impacted by implementing a standardized MBSS protocol for MBSS assessment.