Long Yat Wong1, Manwa L Ng1, Eric T S Tong2. 1. Speech Science Laboratory, Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 2. Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The present study objectively examined the consistency (thickness) of labels that are used in Hong Kong for the population with dysphagia using an International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) flow test and Bostwick consistometric measurements. METHODS: Liquids were prepared by thickening water to achieve 4 consistency labels (slightly thick, mildly thick, medium thick, and extra thick) according to manufacturer's instructions, employing 2 types of thickening products that are used in Hong Kong, i.e., starch based and gum based. For each consistency label prepared using each thickening product, the IDDSI flow test and consistometric measurements were obtained and compared. RESULTS: The results showed that the actual thickness of liquids was highly dependent on the type of thickener (starch based vs. gum based) used. Thickened liquids prepared using the starch-based thickener were generally thinner than the actual value at a lower concentration. CONCLUSION: Though prepared strictly following the manufacturer's instructions, the thickened liquids fail to faithfully correlate with the standardized norms established according to the IDDSI framework and the objective consistometric measurement using a Bostwick consistometer. Therefore, caution must be exercised when administering a thickened diet following the manufacturer's instructions for patients with dysphagia.
OBJECTIVES: The present study objectively examined the consistency (thickness) of labels that are used in Hong Kong for the population with dysphagia using an International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) flow test and Bostwick consistometric measurements. METHODS: Liquids were prepared by thickening water to achieve 4 consistency labels (slightly thick, mildly thick, medium thick, and extra thick) according to manufacturer's instructions, employing 2 types of thickening products that are used in Hong Kong, i.e., starch based and gum based. For each consistency label prepared using each thickening product, the IDDSI flow test and consistometric measurements were obtained and compared. RESULTS: The results showed that the actual thickness of liquids was highly dependent on the type of thickener (starch based vs. gum based) used. Thickened liquids prepared using the starch-based thickener were generally thinner than the actual value at a lower concentration. CONCLUSION: Though prepared strictly following the manufacturer's instructions, the thickened liquids fail to faithfully correlate with the standardized norms established according to the IDDSI framework and the objective consistometric measurement using a Bostwick consistometer. Therefore, caution must be exercised when administering a thickened diet following the manufacturer's instructions for patients with dysphagia.
Authors: Catriona M Steele; Woroud Abdulrahman Alsanei; Sona Ayanikalath; Carly E A Barbon; Jianshe Chen; Julie A Y Cichero; Kim Coutts; Roberto O Dantas; Janice Duivestein; Lidia Giosa; Ben Hanson; Peter Lam; Caroline Lecko; Chelsea Leigh; Ahmed Nagy; Ashwini M Namasivayam; Weslania V Nascimento; Inge Odendaal; Christina H Smith; Helen Wang Journal: Dysphagia Date: 2014-10-25 Impact factor: 3.438