Relationship between oral intake, patient perceived swallowing impairment, and objective videofluoroscopic measures of swallowing in patients with head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND We aimed to: (1) examine relationships between the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10), and objective measures of swallowing (Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile [MBSImP©] and penetration-aspiration scale [PAS]) in patients with head and neck cancer, (2) compare outcomes between oral intake vs tube-dependent patients, and (3) compare outcomes across time points. METHODS A total of 58 patients with head and neck cancer completed the FOIS, EAT-10, and underwent a standardized videofluoroscopy (VFSS). VFSS were analyzed using the PAS and MBSImP©. Nonparametric analyses were performed. RESULTS A relationship between the FOIS and EAT-10 (r = -0.46; P