AzTrials
AzTrials

Nasopharyngeal CancerNCT01937793

Swallowing Exercises for Nasopharyngeal Cancer After Radiation Therapy

A study testing effortful swallowing exercise and Mendelsohn swallowing exercise in people with Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Dysphagia, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This study is designed to investigate the treatment efficacy of 8 weeks swallowing exercise programs for patients with NPC after radiation therapy. This study also compares two different swallowing exercise: effortful swallow and Mendelsohn's maneuver, to see which one can bring more benefits to patients after a… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Nasopharyngeal Cancer, Dysphagia
What is being tested?
effortful swallowing exercise and Mendelsohn swallowing exercise
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
16 participants
Where
1 siteTaiwan
Study dates
Jan 2013to Dec 2013
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • patients diagnosed with NPC
  • completed radiation therapy at least 1 year
  • mild to moderate swallowing disorder defined by videofluorography
  • able to comply with protocal mandate, willing to perform the exercise programs, and ability to attend the weekly sessions

Who cannot join

  • feeding tube insitu
  • received pharyngeal surgery
  • tracheostomy tube insitu
  • patients who could not put effort to push posterior tongue base backward and who could not elevate their pharyngeal during swallowing
  • severe swallowing disorder or aspirate defined by videofluorography
  • other malignances, neurovascular disease, demyelinating disease
  • cancer relapse or metastases

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Taiwan1 site
  • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Taipei, Taiwan, 100

Other trials in Taiwan

About this study

Official title: Swallowing Exercises for Patients With Nasopharyngeal Cancer After Radiation Therapy

This study is designed to investigate the treatment efficacy of 8 weeks swallowing exercise programs for patients with NPC after radiation therapy. This study also compares two different swallowing exercise: effortful swallow and Mendelsohn's maneuver, to see which one can bring more benefits to patients after a certain period of exercise training. Three assessment tools are selected to evaluate the study result: Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA), videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and Chinese version Swallowing Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (CSWAL-QOL). The hypothesis of this study is that the effortful swallowing exercise would have better treatment efficacy.

Being tested
effortful swallowing exercise, Mendelsohn swallowing exercise
Keywords
radiation, speech-language pathology
Medical subject headings
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms, Deglutition Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • effortful swallowing exerciseOther

    voluntarily increases the posterior tongue base pushing effort while swallowing

  • Mendelsohn swallowing exerciseOther

    voluntarily increase the extent and duration of laryngeal elevation while swallowing

Study groups in NCT01937793
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
effortful swallowing exerciseActive comparatorSubjects in the arm are asked to do the effortful swallowing exercise at home for 8 weeks. The training frequency is to exercise 3-4 days/week, 3 times/day, 10 repetitions per time. Besides the at home exercise, each subject is scheduled to meet the investigator at the hospital at weekly basis to discuss and review his/her exercise practice.
Receives: Other: effortful swallowing exercise
Mendelsohn swallowing exerciseActive comparatorSubjects in the arm are asked to do the Mendelsohn swallowing exercise at home for 8 weeks. The training frequency is to exercise 3-4 days/week, 3 times/day, 10 repetitions per time. Besides the at home exercise, each subject is scheduled to meet the investigator at the hospital at weekly basis to discuss and review his/her exercise practice.
Receives: Other: Mendelsohn swallowing exercise

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change from Baseline in videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS)

    Videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) measures the bolus transit time including: 1.oral transit time; 2. pharyngeal transit time; and 3. pharyngeal delay time. It also reveals the occurrence of swallowing aspiration or not.

    Measured: Change from Baseline in VFSS at 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Change from Baseline in Chinese version of the Swallow Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (CSWAL-QOL)

    The Chinese version of SWAL-QOL questionnaire (CSWAL-QOL) contains 10 scales related to swallowing and quality of life, including burden, eating desire, food duration, food selection, communication, fear, mental health, social functioning, sleep, and fatigue. All scales are linearly transformed into a 0-to-100 metric, with 0 indicating most dysfunction and 100 indicating no dysfunction.

    Measured: Change from Baseline in CSWAL-QOL at 8 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Sep 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 2013
  3. Primary completionDec 2013
  4. Study completionDec 2013

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
16 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01937793
Sponsor's protocol ID
201211062RIB
Other IDs
000766KJY
Status last verified
Apr 2014
First submitted
30 Jan 2013
Last updated
17 Apr 2014
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Hind JA, Nicosia MA, Roecker EB, Carnes ML, Robbins J. Comparison of effortful and noneffortful swallows in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Dec;82(12):1661-5. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2001.28006.

    PubMed 11733879
  • Huang HY, Wilkie DJ, Schubert MM, Ting LL. Symptom profile of nasopharyngeal cancer patients during radiation therapy. Cancer Pract. 2000 Nov-Dec;8(6):274-81. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-5394.2000.86007.x.

    PubMed 11898144
  • Hughes PJ, Scott PM, Kew J, Cheung DM, Leung SF, Ahuja AT, van Hasselt CA. Dysphagia in treated nasopharyngeal cancer. Head Neck. 2000 Jul;22(4):393-7. doi: 10.1002/1097-0347(200007)22:43.0.co;2-2.

    PubMed 10862024
  • Kotz T, Federman AD, Kao J, Milman L, Packer S, Lopez-Prieto C, Forsythe K, Genden EM. Prophylactic swallowing exercises in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiation: a randomized trial. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Apr;138(4):376-82. doi: 10.1001/archoto.2012.187.

    PubMed 22508621
  • Ku PK, Yuen EH, Cheung DM, Chan BY, Ahuja A, Leung SF, Tong MC, van Hasselt A. Early swallowing problems in a cohort of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Symptomatology and videofluoroscopic findings. Laryngoscope. 2007 Jan;117(1):142-6. doi: 10.1097/01.mlg.0000248738.55387.44.

    PubMed 17202944
  • Kulbersh BD, Rosenthal EL, McGrew BM, Duncan RD, McColloch NL, Carroll WR, Magnuson JS. Pretreatment, preoperative swallowing exercises may improve dysphagia quality of life. Laryngoscope. 2006 Jun;116(6):883-6. doi: 10.1097/01.mlg.0000217278.96901.fc.

    PubMed 16735913
  • Lam PM, Lai CK. The validation of the Chinese version of the Swallow Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Dysphagia. 2011 Jun;26(2):117-24. doi: 10.1007/s00455-010-9272-6. Epub 2010 Mar 4.

    PubMed 20204414
  • Lazarus C, Logemann JA, Song CW, Rademaker AW, Kahrilas PJ. Effects of voluntary maneuvers on tongue base function for swallowing. Folia Phoniatr Logop. 2002 Jul-Aug;54(4):171-6. doi: 10.1159/000063192.

    PubMed 12169803
  • Logemann JA. Role of the modified barium swallow in management of patients with dysphagia. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997 Mar;116(3):335-8. doi: 10.1016/S0194-59989770269-9.

    PubMed 9121786
  • Shaker R, Easterling C, Kern M, Nitschke T, Massey B, Daniels S, Grande B, Kazandjian M, Dikeman K. Rehabilitation of swallowing by exercise in tube-fed patients with pharyngeal dysphagia secondary to abnormal UES opening. Gastroenterology. 2002 May;122(5):1314-21. doi: 10.1053/gast.2002.32999.

    PubMed 11984518
  • Tang Y, Shen Q, Wang Y, Lu K, Wang Y, Peng Y. A randomized prospective study of rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of radiation-induced dysphagia and trismus. Strahlenther Onkol. 2011 Jan;187(1):39-44. doi: 10.1007/s00066-010-2151-0. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

    PubMed 21136031
  • van der Molen L, van Rossum MA, Burkhead LM, Smeele LE, Rasch CR, Hilgers FJ. A randomized preventive rehabilitation trial in advanced head and neck cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy: feasibility, compliance, and short-term effects. Dysphagia. 2011 Jun;26(2):155-70. doi: 10.1007/s00455-010-9288-y. Epub 2010 Jul 11.

    PubMed 20623305
  • Wang TG, Chang YC, Chen WS, Lin PH, Hsiao TY. Reduction in hyoid bone forward movement in irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with dysphagia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Jun;91(6):926-31. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.02.011.

    PubMed 20510985
  • Wu CH, Hsiao TY, Ko JY, Hsu MM. Dysphagia after radiotherapy: endoscopic examination of swallowing in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2000 Mar;109(3):320-5. doi: 10.1177/000348940010900315.

    PubMed 10737318

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing effortful swallowing exercise and Mendelsohn swallowing exercise in people with Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Dysphagia, run by National Taiwan University Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Apr 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Taiwan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change from Baseline in videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) (time frame: Change from Baseline in VFSS at 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01937793, which also lists 14 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Apr 2014.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in