Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38935170›Full record

ArticleDysphagia2025

Clinical Implementation of DIGEST as an Evidence-Based Practice Tool for Videofluoroscopy in Oncology: A Six-Year Single Institution Implementation Evaluation.

Katherine A Hutcheson, Ella F Aldridge, Carla L Warneke, Sheila N Buoy, Xiaohui Tang, Cameron Macdonald, Clare P Alvarez, Denise A Barringer, Carly E A Barbon, Barbara M Ebersole and 2 more

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Dysphagia, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Katherine A HutchesonDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1445, Houston, Texas, 77030-4009, US. karnold@mdanderson.org.ORCID 0000-0003-3710-5706
Ella F AldridgeDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1445, Houston, Texas, 77030-4009, US.
Carla L WarnekeDepartment of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1689, Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Sheila N BuoyDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler, Unit 1445, Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Xiaohui TangDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler, Unit 1445, Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Cameron MacdonaldQualitative Health Research Center, 111 King St., Suite 23, Madison, WI, 53703, US.
Clare P AlvarezDepartment of Head & Neck Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 0340, Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Denise A BarringerDepartment of Endoscopy Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 0385, Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Carly E A BarbonDepartment of Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1445, Houston, Texas, 77030-4009, US.
Barbara M EbersoleDepartment of Head & Neck Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. (R10.1810), Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Holly McMillanDepartment of Head & Neck Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. (R10.1824), Houston, Texas, 77030, US.
Jane R MontealegreDepartment of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler (CPB3.3253), Houston, Texas, 77030, US.

Funding

Tumor Evolution and Metastasis ProgramP30CA016672 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI Fabien Delerue · 1985 to 2026
$290.8M
Dissemination and implementation of DIGEST™ as an evidence-based measurement tool for dysphagia in cancerR01CA271223 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI Katherine Arnold Hutcheson · 2023 to 2026
$2.6M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA016672NCI NIH HHS R01 CA271223NIH HHS R01CA271223The Cancer Center Support Grant NCI Grant P30 CA016672
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Clinical implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) tools is a healthcare priority. The Dynamic Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) is an EBP tool developed in 2016 for videofluoroscopy in head and neck (H&N) oncology with clinical implementation as a goal. We sought to examine: (1) feasibility of clinical implementation of DIGEST in a national comprehensive cancer center, and (2) fidelity of DIGEST adoption in real-world practice. A retrospective implementation evaluation was conducted in accordance with the STARI framework. Electronic health record (EHR) databases were queried for all consecutive modified barium swallow (MBS) studies conducted at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2016 to 2021. Implementation outcomes included: feasibility as measured by DIGEST reporting in EHR (as a marker of clinical use) and fidelity as measured by accuracy of DIGEST reporting relative to the decision-tree logic (penetration-aspiration scale [PAS], residue, and Safety [S] and Efficiency [E] grades). Contextual factors examined included year, setting, cancer type, MBS indication, and provider. 13,055 MBS were conducted by 29 providers in 7,842 unique patients across the lifespan in diverse oncology populations (69% M; age 1-96 years; 58% H&N cancer; 10% inpatient, 90% outpatient). DIGEST was reported in 12,137/13,088 exams over the 6-year implementation period representing 93% (95% CI: 93-94%) adoption in all exams and 99% (95% CI: 98-99%) of exams excluding the total laryngectomy population (n = 730). DIGEST reporting varied modestly by year, cancer type, and setting/provider (> 91% in all subgroups, p < 0.001). Accuracy of DIGEST reporting was high for overall DIGEST (incorrect SE profile 1.6%, 200/12,137), DIGEST-safety (incorrect PAS 0.4% 51/12,137) and DIGEST-efficiency (incorrect residue 1.2%, 148/12,137). Clinical implementation of DIGEST was feasible with high fidelity in a busy oncology practice across a large number of providers. Adoption of the tool across the lifespan in diverse cancer diagnoses may motivate validation beyond H&N oncology.

Indexed as

Deglutition DisordersFluoroscopyHead and Neck NeoplasmsMedical OncologyProcedures and Techniques UtilizationAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildChild, PreschoolDecision TreesEvidence-Based MedicineFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansDIGESTEvidence-based practiceImplementation scienceModified barium swallowVideofluoroscopy

Identifiers

PMID38935170
PMCPMC11792177

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.