Development and Validation of a Record Sheet for the Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation 0f Swallowing

Abstract

Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is an emerging assessment in speech therapy practice in Sri Lanka. Lack of consensus of reporting the findings of FEES across different clinical settings and failing to conduct essential subareas of the assessment process has been noted as major issues due to the lack of an appropriate documentation system. Therefore, this study is focused on developing and content validating a documentation system for FEES for patients who have not undergone any clinical examination on swallowing. Modified Delphi method was conducted on 7 speech therapists who are involved in conducting FEES in government hospitals and private sectors. Online questionnaires were used to finalize and content validate the developed record sheet. The record sheet for FEES got finalized with the accepted components and suggestions from two Delphi panels. The Delphi panellists agreed on the content with an excellent content validity index score. The finalized record sheet was designed in a user-friendly manner, and consisted of 3 subsystems; pre FEES, FEES findings, and post FEES.