The Clinical Efficacy of Direct Swallowing Training for Patients with Dysphagia: A Systematic Review.

AIM: This review systematically evaluated the clinical effectiveness of direct swallowing training in patients with dysphagia.

BACKGROUND

Dysphagia has a high prevalence rate and can seriously impair patients' quality of life. Although direct swallowing training within current rehabilitation frameworks demonstrates efficacy, there remains a lack of standardised protocols and an absence of comprehensive systematic reviews that incorporate multidimensional outcome measures.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted across CNKI, Wanfang Database, CBMdisc, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL. The keywords employed included "Swallowing Training", "Food Texture Modification", "Deglutition Disorders" and "Nutritional Status". The search period was from the establishment of each database to August 2025. Meta-analyses were executed using RevMan software.

RESULTS

A total of 25 randomised controlled studies were included. The findings indicate that direct swallowing training significantly improves swallowing function, nutritional status, quality of life and reduces the incidence of complications in patients with dysphagia.

CONCLUSION

This review supports the development of standardised protocols for direct swallowing training interventions, providing evidence-based recommendations for clinical nursing practice aimed at optimising patient outcomes.