SynthesisBMC cancer2017
Swallowing interventions for the treatment of dysphagia after head and neck cancer: a systematic review of behavioural strategies used to promote patient adherence to swallowing exercises.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
47 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 102 citations in OpenAlex.
- The effect of healthcare professional-implemented interventions on adherence to oral targeted therapy in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Pre- and post-operative voice therapy (PaPOV): Development of an intervention for patients with benign vocal fold lesions.International journal of language & communication disorders · 2023Pooled it
- Trial
- Preventing radiation-induced dysphagia and trismus in head and neck cancer-A randomized controlled trial.Head & neck · 2025Trial
- Self-management intervention improves patient adherence to swallowing exercises during radiation for head and neck cancer.Head & neck · 2024Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- A randomized controlled study evaluating the head-lift exercise in head and neck cancer patients with radiation-induced dysphagia: effect on swallowing function and health-related quality of life over 12 months.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2023Trial
- Head and Neck Virtual Coach: A Randomized Control Trial of Mobile Health as an Adjunct to Swallowing Therapy During Head and Neck Radiation.Dysphagia · 2023Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Article
- The Relationship between Swallowing Muscle Mass and Tongue Muscle Strength and Endurance in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.Dysphagia · 2026Article
- Impacts of a Group-Based Intervention To Mitigate Concurrent Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy-Induced Dysphagia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.Dysphagia · 2026Article
- Article
- Precision rehabilitation for swallowing dysfunction after radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: current evidence, key controversies, and future perspectives.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Personalized swallowing rehabilitation program for post-surgical dysphagia in oral cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Effect of Nurse-Led Swallowing Rehabilitation on Swallowing Function, Quality of Life, and Adherence in Patients with Oral Cancer: A Single Center Randomized Controlled Trial.Patient preference and adherence · 2026Article
- Evaluating Behavioural Interventions for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Swallowing Manoeuvres, Exercises, and Postural Techniques.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDysphagia is a significant side-effect following treatment for head and neck cancers, yet poor adherence to swallowing exercises is frequently reported in intervention studies. Behaviour change techniques (BCTs) can be used to improve adherence, but no review to date has described the techniques or indicated which may be more associated with improved swallowing outcomes.
methodsA systematic review was conducted to identify behavioural strategies in swallowing interventions, and to explore any relationships between these strategies and intervention effects. Randomised and quasi-randomised studies of head and neck cancer patients were included. Behavioural interventions to improve swallowing were eligible provided a valid measure of swallowing function was reported. A validated and comprehensive list of 93 discrete BCTs was used to code interventions. Analysis was conducted via a structured synthesis approach.
resultsFifteen studies (8 randomised) were included, and 20 different BCTs were each identified in at least one intervention. The BCTs identified in almost all interventions were: instruction on how to perform the behavior, setting behavioural goals and action planning. The BCTs that occurred more frequently in effective interventions, were: practical social support, behavioural practice, self-monitoring of behaviour and credible source for example a skilled clinician delivering the intervention. The presence of identical BCTs in comparator groups may diminish effects.
conclusionsSwallowing interventions feature multiple components that may potentially impact outcomes. This review maps the behavioural components of reported interventions and provides a method to consistently describe these components going forward. Future work may seek to test the most effective BCTs, to inform optimisation of swallowing interventions.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.