Quality of life regarding eating and drinking of person with cervical spinal cord injury

Abstract

Background: In cervical level of spinal cord injury the swallowing, voice production and respiratory systems are often affected that may cause different types of Dysphagia, dysphonia besides physical problems. The problem may appear in mild to severe state which can be vary person to person. Speech & Language Therapists’ are those who work closely to solve the swallowing difficulties so they need concrete data about the challenges related to swallowing.

Aim To explore the quality of life regarding eating and drinking of patient with cervical spinal cord injury. 

Methodology: This cross sectional prospective survey study revealed eating and drinking related quality of life of 45 cervical spinal cord injury admitted patients through dysphagia handicap index (DHI) from Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP).

Result:  Result showed 49% respondent reported had little to sever swallowing problem where as 13% reported extreme swallowing difficulties. The swallowing difficulty symptoms were coughing while eating-drinking (31.1%), needs of fluid to wash out the food (8.9%), multiple swallow (11.1%), chock in medicine (2.2%), strangling sensation in throat and couth up the food (4.4%) and liquid (6.7%). Besides that the functional status of swallowing affected by taking longer time to finish the meal than usual time (18.6%) which was the major complain. On the other hand the emotional swallowing status defined by ‘Afraid of chocking that may stops breathing because of swallowing problem (11.6%). There was highly significant correlation found between overall severities of swallowing difficulty and feeling handicapped because of swallowing problem p=.039.

Conclusion: The findings suggested that the CSCI patient have problem with physical, emotional and functional aspect of swallowing which need to be considered to rehab the swallowing.