The Massey Bedside Swallowing Screen

A prospective, one-group, nonexperimental design was used for this study. This design was selected to provide a methodological approach for establishing interrater reliability and content and predictive validity of the swallowing screen. This study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1 content validity was established by experts in the field of stroke management, and in phase 2 interrater reliability was established. Sensitivity and specificity were determined by monitoring the participants' charts for 5 days to track dysphagia indicators. The experts supported content validity. To test interrater reliability, 2 reviewers evaluated 25 participants within a 2-hour time period. Participants were tested within 48 hours of the stroke. The interrater reliability of the bedside swallowing screen, as calculated in this study, was relatively high. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 100%. The chi-square test showed that use of the Massey Bedside Swallowing Screen might provide nurses with a useful tool for assessing swallowing function of patients with a stroke.