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An Experimental Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Swallowing Exercises on Level Dysphagia Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients in Selected Hospital at Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu

P. Femila, Ganapathy ., Padmavathy .

Abstract


Background: World-wide, the head and neck cancers form the sixth most common cancer. It is the most common cancer in developing countries. Oropharyngeal and tongue cancers are common in the Western world. Cigarette-smoking and alcohol consumption are the main reasons for head and neck cancers in the Western population. Dysphagia is a mutual indication of head and neck cancer or sequelae of its administration. Range of motion exercises for the jaw, lips, oral tongue, tongue base, upper airway closure, and laryngeal elevation are useful for head and neck cancer patients who have structural or tissue damage Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of swallowing exercises on level dysphagia among head and neck cancer patients in selected hospital at Kanyakumari District. Methods: The research design adapted for this study was Quasi experimental pre- and posttest control group design with evaluative approach. The study was conducted in International Cancer Centre Neyyoor, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. Populations of the present study was patients they are diagnosed as 2nd and 3rd stage of cancer who were admitted at International cancer centre Neyyoor, Kanyakumari district. Official permission was obtained from authorities and consent from the study subjects at selected hospital. Twenty samples were selected by using convenience sampling technique. Tool used for data collection was modified Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability Scale. Swallowing Exercises were demonstrated by the investigator to the experimental group and the subjects were instructed to do for 5-10 repetitions, two times a day (morning and evening) for the period of one month. Control groups were instructed to perform a standard oral care. Posttest was done on 30th day of intervention in both experimental and control group. Dysphagia was compared between experimental and control group after intervention. Results: The mean dysphagia in the pretest was 126.0±17.7 and in the posttest was 173.0±22.1. The improvement was 47.0±9.0. The improvement was statistically very highly significant (P<0.001). In control group the mean dysphagia in the pretest was 102.5±13.8 and of the posttest was 93.9±14.9. The difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). It shows that swallowing exercises was effective in reducing dysphagia

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References


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