Introduction
The human capacity to swallow, which naturally begins with the oral pathway, is a process orchestrated by the harmonious interaction of anatomical and physiological systems located in the oropharyngeal and esophageal regions. This mechanism operates in a sophisticated manner. Swallowing function could be disrupted by dysphagia, a multifaceted condition arising from various etiological factors that consequently present individuals with nutritional challenges. Stroke is another prevalent medical condition often associated with dysphagia, particularly in cases with neurological origins [
1].
Various stroke factors, including the size and location of the stroke lesion, have significant implications such as dysphagia, and the degree of its severity. The prevalence of dysphagia following a stroke has been documented to be as high as 78%, with researchers reporting the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia in approximately 48% of affected individuals [
2]. These deteriorations have a cumulative impact on patients’ lives, negatively affecting them and necessitating higher healthcare expenses [
3]. Consequently, immediate identification and timely diagnosis of dysphagia can lead to prompt resolution of the symptoms and consequences associated with the impairment of swallowing function [
4]. The diagnosis of a swallowing issue can be readily accomplished using two distinct instrumented imaging techniques, which are widely regarded as the gold standards in the field: : the modified barium swallow study (MBSS) and the fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES). Both of these swallowing tests offer health professionals an unbiased assessment. If there is a failure in the occurrence of a swallowing, or if there is an abnormal sequence, timing, or intensity of these events, it can lead to reduced swallowing safety and efficiency. These two tests are used to understand whether the patient safely and efficiently swallow. The existing literature indicates that both of these fundamental evaluation methodologies are capable of providing objective instrumental assessments of swallowing difficulties associated with residues retained in the oral and pharyngeal pathways.
A scientifically relevant residue scale for determining residue retention must evaluate three crucial elements: the quantity of the residue, the location of the residue, and the patient’s reaction to the residue. First, an increase in the quantity of residue has been found to exacerbate the physiological decline in swallowing function. Second, the location of the residue plays a crucial role in determining the likelihood of aspiration. Third, the patient’s lowered capacity for spontaneous swallowing against the residue, as well as their diminished sensation and awareness of the presence of residue, further contribute to an increased risk of aspiration [
5]. The MBSS has had numerous residual score scales developed specifically for its use [
6,
7], including a subjective assessment measures commonly employed in clinical settings to evaluate the residual rate through the utilization of binary questions (indicating presence or absence) [
8], ordinal ratings (ranging from absent to heavy) [
9,
10], or the estimated ratio of the bolus upon swallowing [
11,
12]. However, these subjective assessments raise significant concerns due to their low inter-rater reliability. By contrast FEES provides greater sensitivity than MSS for detecting pharyngeal residues [
13]. Notably, neither method assesses the efficacy of residue clearance, also referred to as residue management, in terms of quantity and distribution [
5,
13,
14].
Thus far, only one study has been published in the Turkish language on the assessment of the severity, validity, and reliability of pharyngeal residual measurements [
15], and that study did not include the aspect of residual management. Contrary to other tools, BRACS provides advantages in accurately determining the location and quantity of residue on both the oropharynx and hypopharynx for FEES when patients with oropharangeal dysphagia are examined. The aim of the present work was therefore to perform a validity and reliability study of the Boston Residue And Clearance Scale (BRACS) tool after its adaptation for the Turkish language. The BRACS tool, developed by researchers [
16] was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of residue clearance in patients and encompasses, several key aspects including the location, quantity of the residue as well as the efficacy of patients’ ability to eliminate the residue in a clinically useful manner. By using BRACS, patient’s response to residue could be assessed. Given the scarcity of comparable studies in the domain of swallowing difficulties, this investigation is anticipated to contribute substantial scientific information. The aim of this study was to address the following research questions:
1.
Is the developed Turkish language adaptation of the Boston Residue and Clearance Scale a valid instrument scale?
2.
Is the developed Turkish language adaptation of the Boston Residue and Clearance Scale a reliable instrument scale?
Discussion
The aim of this study was to translate, adapt and validate BRACS. The Turkish version of the BRACS was modified with the objective of assessing the severity of residue, and was subsequently examined to determine its concurrent validity and reliability. The construct validity of the Turkish BRACS was assessed using EFA and CFA. The application of EFA indicated no need to eliminate any item from the scale. The variance was accounted for by a three-factor structure consisting of Factor 1, Larengeal Vestibül (Laryngeal Vestibule), Factor 2, named as Alt Farenks (Hypopharynx), and Factor 3, identified as Üst Farenks (oroharynx). These factors collectively explained 76.60% of the variance. Examination of the CFA and the three-factor structure revealed that they exhibited strong fit values.
Although only EFA was used on the items created in the original study, both EFA and CFA were conducted in the BRACS Turkish version. Based on the findings derived from the CFA carried out in this investigation, it was determined that, in conjunction with the EFA results acquired in the initial study, there was no need to eliminate any items from the scale. The findings support the initial investigation. The initial study had inter-rater internal consistency coefficients of 0.81 and 0.80 for the first and second sessions, while our study had inter-rater ICCs of 0.83 and 0.85 for the same sessions (rater 1 = 0.83, rater 2 = 0.85, rater 3 = 0.84, rater 4 = 0.83, rater 5 = 0.85). The data acquired from our investigation demonstrates an acceptable degree of inter-rater reliability, consistent with the findings of the original study.
The results of this study agreed with previous findings reported by researchers [
16]. The assessment of the measurement of scale reliability using the internal consistency of items gave Cronbach’s alpha values for both the internal consistency-based factor total scores and general total scores that ranged from 0.88 to 0.93. Furthermore, the generated three-factor structure had satisfactory values for both item reliability and construct reliability. The AVE value was acceptable in all subscales, and the correlation among subdimensions had a moderate level of significance. The AVE value for discriminant validity was satisfactory for all three dimensions.
The findings of this study support the Turkish version of BRACS as a viable and valid measure for assessing the severity of pharyngeal residue. The initial study involving an EFA of the 12 location questions in BRACS identified three primary latent variables, but a CFA was not performed. Conducting a CFA for validity and reliability revealed relationships for all 12 items, which were then confirmed. The anatomical structures were designated as the “laryngeal vestibule,” “hypopharynx,” and “oropharynx.” The Turkish version demonstrated significant levels of inter–rater and test–retest reliability. The high reliability of the training session may be attributed to several factors, including the provision of clear instructions and the absence of time limit imposed on the to score patients. Notably, previous studies [
12,
23] that did not explicitly define scoring criteria or offer training sessions were unable to achieve comparable levels of reliability. While it is true that health professionals may need to invest additional time in scoring residue due to the need to comprehend scoring criteria and employ frame-by-frame analysis, these procedures are essential to ensure that the Turkish version of BRACS maintains a high level of reliability. The high internal consistency of the BRACS scale indicates that all the elements included in the scale are strongly interrelated and deemed relevant.
A further point to consider is that the scarcity of Turkish scales [
15] that possess both validity and reliability for assessing the severity of swallowing disorders following FEES evaluations renders the task of locating this type of scale a relatively insignificant imposition for physicians, despite the time-consuming nature of performing the tasks. A scoring device of this complexity may prove valuable in the context of research, although it may prove excessively burdensome for regular clinical practice. The factor analysis conducted here identified three characteristics that could serve as a guide for determining residue severity in a clinical setting. By exclusively utilizing the broader designations of “laryngeal vestibule,” “hypopharynx,” and “oropharynx,” our scale achieves a higher level of clarity. This would facilitate its routine application in clinical settings.
This finding also implies that the inclusion of all the components in the scale is necessary for an accurate assessment of the severity of residue. Furthermore, the significance of timely identification of oropharyngeal dysphagia, classification of symptom severity, and assessment of therapeutic outcomes is emphasized in the literature [
1,
2,
4]. The implementation of the Turkish version of BRACS is anticipated to provide benefits for clinicians in facilitating their professional duties, while concurrently generating substantial positive impacts on the overall well-being of individuals suffering from swallowing disorders. In summary, upon diagnosis of dysphagia, the therapy process can be initiated immediately. The presence of pharyngeal residue during instrumental swallowing examinations can potentially impact the risk of aspiration, as indicated by clinical judgment [
24]. From a therapeutic perspective, the quantity and extent of the aspiration obtained are significant factors that impact the rehabilitation process and clinical results. Individuals who experience aspiration of food and liquids into their airway face an elevated susceptibility to the development of pneumonia [
25]. By using Turkish version of BRACS, clinicians can determine whether patients are at risk of penetration and aspiration. BRACS has a high diagnostic and treatment value for improving airway safety and efficiency.
We highlight its applicability as a residue assessment tool in patients with pharyngeal dysphagia or patients with a risk of dysphagia. Turkish version of BRACS can assess patients’ residue location, quantity, severity and management of it. Using of BRACS in the clinical setting could provide clinicians with very valuable information regarding patients’ swallowing safety and efficiency and take the required precautions for pharyngeal dysphagia. Residue management is a must for patients’ overall health.
The present study has a few limitations. One of them is that our study did not include swallowing difficulties of various etiologies although this cannot be considered a strict limitation, as the manifestation of swallowing symptoms demonstrates minimal variation across different etiologies [
3,
26]. The fact that only a relatively small number of experts participated in our study is another limitation of this study. Future research studies on larger sample size of evaluators are required to confirm the results of present study. Additionally, it is important to note that incorporation of additional raters who are healthcare professionals engaged in dysphagia therapy but who are not SLTs would likely result in enhanced reliability and consensus validity. Lastly, when this research was initiated no Turkish version of residue scale existed to compare our results from BRACS. Provided that other scales are developed, the results should be compared using the scales. In future studies, our recommendation is that researchers incorporate additional healthcare professionals as raters.
Conclusion
A novel measurement instrument designed to evaluate the issue of residue observed during a FEES test has been developed for the Turkish dysphagia literature. The Turkish BRACS exhibits acceptable levels of reliability, convergent validity, concurrent validity, and discriminant validity. The scale encompassed items that were suitable for evaluating the severity and location of residue, the patient’s reaction to the residue, and the efficacy of any clearance swallows. In accordance with the recommendations put forward in the original research article, additional modifications were implemented to enhance the clinical applicability and validity of BRACS, building upon the findings from the explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis.
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