Systematic review of validated parent-reported questionnaires assessing swallowing dysfunction in otherwise healthy infants and toddlers

Abstract

Objectives There has been increasing interest in the management of oropharyngeal swallowing dysfunction (SwD). Its prevalence, particularly in otherwise healthy infants and toddlers (OHITs), is underappreciated. As the standard diagnostic tests are either invasive or scarce, valid parent-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires could play a pivotal role in the understanding and managing SwD in this group. This article reviewed the literature on PRO questionnaires pertaining to SwD in OHITs. Data source A librarian searched Prospero, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, HaPI, CINAHL, and SCOPUS until February 2021 using the MeSH terms for deglutition and screening methods. Review method Questionnaires that examined disease-specific or eating and feeding concerns or difficulties were excluded. Two reviewers independently identified PRO questionnaires for SwD that were used in OHITs and extracted the author names, publication year, questionnaire name, the studied population, and the reported psychometric assessments. A quality assessment was performed based on consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) and updated criteria for good measurement properties. Results Of the 3488 screened articles, we identified only two questionnaires, the pediatric version of the Eating Assessment Tool (PEDI-EAT-10) and the PRO questionnaire for Swallowing Dysfunction in OHITs. The PEDI-EAT-10 authors assessed the validity and reliability on children with cerebral palsy. However, concerns were identified regarding the developmental process and the internal structure validity. The PRO questionnaire for SwD in OHITs meets criteria but has not yet been validated in the population of interest nor its psychometric properties assessed. Conclusion Two instruments were identified. The PED-EAT-10 exhibits methodological flaws, while Edmonton PRO questionnaire for SwD in OHITs awaits construct validation and could fill the current knowledge gap.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures That Describe the Feeding Skills Domain for Pediatric Feeding Disorder: A Clinimetric Review

“…Ideally, a comprehensive clinimetric review will include use of the COnsensus-based Standards to the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology (19)(20)(21). Previous reviews regarding PROMs in feeding have been completed (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), universally identifying that many existing PROMs do not have robust psychometric data, and that further work is required. Unfortunately, only 2 of these reviews formally used the COSMIN methodology (22,27), and none focused specifically on any particular domain for PFD, given most preceded the proposal of the consensus definition (1).…”

“…Previous reviews regarding PROMs in feeding have been completed (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27), universally identifying that many existing PROMs do not have robust psychometric data, and that further work is required. Unfortunately, only 2 of these reviews formally used the COSMIN methodology (22,27), and none focused specifically on any particular domain for PFD, given most preceded the proposal of the consensus definition (1). This lack of information leaves clinicians without clear guidance as to which tools should be used in their clinical practice to inform the diagnostic process for PFD.…”

Current opinion in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery: the role of the otolaryngologist in the management of pediatric dysphagia

“…In the pediatric population, parent reported questionnaires could provide unique insight. Examples of parent-reported dysphagia questionnaires include PEDI-EAT-10 and the Parent Reported Outcome Questionnaire for Swallow Dysfunction in Healthy Infants and Toddlers, amongst several others [10,11].…”

Validation and cross‐cultural adaptation of the Italian version of the paediatric eating assessment tool (I‐PEDI‐EAT‐10) in genetic syndromes

“…A higher prevalence of swallowing difficulties has been reported for some genetic conditions, including CHARGE (Blake & Hudson, 2017) and Moebius syndromes (Renault et al., 2020) and Wolf–Hirshhorn syndrome (Sabbadini et al., 2002). Interestingly, a recent study reported an incidence of paediatric swallowing difficulties in 0.9% of children aged 3–17 years living in the United States (Baqays et al., 2021; Bhattacharyya, 2015). The expanding survival rate of preterm infants and newborns with multiple health issues and disabilities can explain the increasing interest in dysphagia (Harding et al., 2022).…”

“…Although several instruments have been developed to assess swallowing and feeding, data on their validity and reliability are still missing (Baqays et al., 2021).…”