Validity by experts judgment of an audiovisual tool of food textures and thickness of liquids (NutriDis®) adapted for people with dysphagia

Abstract

Introduction: patients and caregivers find it difficult to understand the indications of modified texture diets following dysphagia severity, and this negatively influences adherence and increases patient morbidity and mortality. The written or verbal explanation would not be enough, and additional resources based on images and / or the realization of practical demonstrations are required. As a result, the NutriDis® audiovisual tool was designed.

Objectives: to determine the apparent and content validity and feasibility of an audiovisual tool based on the descriptors of the “International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative” (IDDSI).

Materials and method: the Delphi technique was used following experts judgment, including nutritionists, speech therapists and kinesiologists. 19 experts participated in the first round and 9 in the second. The degree of agreement among them was determined through Aiken's V coefficient for each level of IDDSI and also at global level.

Results: the tool turned out to be valid and the degree of global agreement increased between the first and second rounds from 90, 8 % to 94,1%, classifying as adequate. Level IDDSI 4 presented the highest agreement and IDDSI 1 the lowest.

Conclusions: according to the opinion of experts in the area, the NutriDis® audiovisual tool presented an adequate content validity on average and was globally rated as excellent by the majority. It is highlighted that the tool is unprecedented and its development represented a great challenge.