Studies evidence the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Viscgo Drink Thickness Test Sticks

The University of Manchester has published an independent real-world validation study* that assesses the validity of the Viscgo Drink Thickness Test Sticks and tests how reliable the Sticks are when used by different healthcare professionals. You can read a summary here.

Below we have summarized other studies that evidence the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the Viscgo Sticks, the appropriateness of prescribing them and the value for money this will achieve.

So you can use and recommend the Viscgo Sticks with confidence.

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Study 1. Establishing the need for Viscgo Sticks through customer discovery interviews

Speech and Language Therapist assessing patient's ability to swallow

In July 2020, Viscgo conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 45 key stakeholders (Dysphagia-Specialist Speech and Language Therapists) across the UK who are responsible for the assessment, diagnosis and management of people with dysphagia.

64% cited lack of adherence to prescribed drink thickness levels as a major problem in their dysphagia practice. One said:

“Mixing drinks is terrible. In 2018 I carried out a service review on the acute wards with 87 patients. 1 in 2 drinks mixed by nursing staff was inaccurate (usually too thick) and 1 in 4 wasn’t thickened at all! Whereas a patient would tolerate the level prescribed, they refused the thicker drinks that were served.“

Study 2. Establishing clinical acceptance through focus groups

Between November 2017 and November 2021, Viscgo conducted 5 Focus Groups with a total of 125 Dysphagia Specialist Speech and Language Therapists and 1 Dietitian. The Viscgo Sticks were demonstrated then given to the attendees to use. The attendees then completed a questionnaire and were invited to leave any other comments.

RESULTS
96% would use the Viscgo Sticks
98% rated the Viscgo Sticks as good or excellent
100% rated ease of use of the Viscgo Sticks as good or excellent

Study 3. Pre-intervention drink audit

An independent observational study was undertaken by a Dysphagia Specialist Speech and Language Therapist in a local authority nursing home. Over two days, Senior Managers at the site assessed the drink thickness level of every drink prior to serving to three residents who had been prescribed thickened drinks. A total of 38 drinks of different types at different temperatures, thickened with xanthan gum-based thickener prescribed by each resident’s GP were audited.

RESULTS
100% drinks would not have been at the prescribed IDDSI Level when served under current practice where drink thickness is not tested.

Study 4. Post-intervention drink audit

Independent studies were conducted across six sites (four private nursing homes, one local authority nursing home and one charitable residential school for people with learning disabilities). 51 health care staff used Viscgo Sticks to test the thickness of 3,903 drinks prior to serving to 23 residents prescribed thickened drinks over 93 site days.

RESULTS
100% drinks were served at the correct prescribed IDDSI Level when tested with the Viscgo Sticks prior to serving.

User Feedback from Studies 3 and 4

During Studies 3 and 4, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were used to capture the user perspective.

RESULTS
96% of respondents rated Viscgo Sticks as good or excellent
81% of respondents reported Viscgo Sticks as easy to use
100% of respondents reported that using the Viscgo Sticks reassured them that drinks were at the correct level
100% of respondents reported they would use Viscgo Sticks to test drinks going forward

Study 5. Calculation of wastage of prescribed thickener under current practice where drink thickness is not tested

An independent study was undertaken by Senior Nursing Staff across three nursing homes for nine residents for three days. Different manufacturers’ xanthan gum-based thickeners were used to thicken a variety of drinks at various temperatures (e.g. hot coffee/tea, cold milk, water/oral nutritional supplement at room temperature). To quantify the amount of under/over-use, each resident’s prescribed thickener tin was weighed daily to determine the amount used. These measurements were coordinated with the corresponding fluid charts which detailed drinks served and consumed. This data was collected from 235 drinks.

RESULTS
None of the residents received the amount of thickener prescribed. The amount of thickener received ranged from 3% less to 261% more than prescribed with a mean of 41% more.