Effect of a systemic intervention combined with a psychological intervention in stroke patients with oropharyngeal dysfunction.

Background: Stroke frequently results in oropharyngeal dysfunction (OD), leading to difficulties in swallowing and eating, as well as triggering negative emotions, malnutrition, and aspiration pneumonia, which can be detrimental to patients. However, routine nursing interventions often fail to address these issues adequately. Systemic and psychological interventions can improve dysphagia symptoms, relieve negative emotions, and improve quality of life. However, there are few clinical reports of systemic interventions combined with psychological interventions for stroke patients with OD.

Aim: To explore the effects of combining systemic and psychological interventions in stroke patients with OD.

Methods: This retrospective study included 90 stroke patients with OD, admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College (January 2022-December 2023), who were divided into two groups: regular and coalition. Swallowing function grading (using a water swallow test), swallowing function [using the standardized swallowing assessment (SSA)], negative emotions [using the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS)], and quality of life (SWAL-QOL) were compared between groups before and after the intervention; aspiration pneumonia incidence was recorded.

Results: Post-intervention, the coalition group had a greater number of patients with grade 1 swallowing function compared to the regular group, while the number of patients with grade 5 swallowing function was lower than that in the regular group (P < 0.05). Post-intervention, the SSA, SAS, and SDS scores of both groups decreased, with a more significant decrease observed in the coalition group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the total SWAL-QOL score in both groups increased, with a more significant increase observed in the coalition group (P < 0.05). During the intervention period, the total incidence of aspiration and aspiration pneumonia in the coalition group was lower than that in the control group (4.44% vs 20.00%; P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Systemic intervention combined with psychological intervention can improve dysphagia symptoms, alleviate negative emotions, enhance quality of life, and reduce the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in patients with OD.