Swallowing muscle training for oropharyngeal dysphagia: A non-inferiority study of online versus face-to-face therapy

Introduction The purpose of this study is to show the non-inferiority of the telemedicine therapy versus face-to-face using the exercise therapy of oropharyngeal muscles in 183 patients treated consecutively from 2010 to 2020. Method We conducted a retrospective study comparing two dysphagia treatment groups: online versus face-to-face. Patients were distributed in a non-random way but according to patient's preferences. All patients followed the same pathway and were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of the study using the dysphagia outcome and severity scale and the functional oral intake scale. A non-inferiority analysis approximation was done with delta = 1 in both variables. Results Within a total of 183 patients, 114 (62.3%) used the online treatment and 69 (37.7%) the face-to-face one. The main cause of dysphagia was neurological in the total sample (60.7%) and within both groups. When we evaluate the clinical response, we find that both groups improved regardless of the type of therapy. The confidence interval of the difference between the beginning and the end of treatment did not reach the inferior limit of the delta defined, therefore supporting the no inferiority of online versus presential. Discussion This study shows the no inferiority of the online therapy versus the face-to-face one for the oropharyngeal training of the swallow muscles.