This study was done to investigate effects on swallowing function following visual stimulation and swallowing
promotion exercises before meals for elders with swallowing difficulties following stroke. Methods:
Participants for this nonequivalent control pre-post test design were 72 elders with stroke. Convenience sampling
method was used to assign participants to experimental (36) and control (36) groups. The intervention was provided
for about 15 minutes at every lunch and dinner time for 4 weeks. Outcome variables were Gugging
Swallowing Screen (GUSS) score, body weight, total caloric intake, self-efficacy for swallowing, and coughing
episodes during meal times. Results: Fifty-one participants were women (72.9%) and 74.3% were stroke only
patients. Higher percent of patients in the experimental group had solid chopped food compared to the control
group. In ANCOVA analysis using GUSS score as a covariate, the only significant improvement after the intervention
was self-efficacy for swallowing. Conclusion: Visual stimulation and swallowing promotion exercises could
lead to improvement in self-efficacy for swallowing even if they did not decrease coughing episodes during meal
time.