DIGEST: a tool to measure swallowing problems in cancer survivors
Dissemination and implementation of DIGEST™ as an evidence-based measurement tool for dysphagia in cancer
This project will help get a reliable swallowing test called DIGEST into clinics so swallowing problems in people who had cancer are more easily found and tracked.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11263706 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about a clinical grading system called DIGEST that uses a modified barium swallow x-ray to rate how well you clear food and liquids from your throat. The team plans to train speech-language pathologists, adapt DIGEST for different clinic settings, and build workflows so clinicians actually use the tool. They will collect imaging results, clinician feedback, and adoption data to refine the process and reduce barriers. The goal is to make swallowing problems more consistently recognized and acted on after cancer treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are cancer survivors who are experiencing swallowing difficulties and who can undergo a videofluoroscopic (modified barium) swallowing exam at a participating clinic.
Not a fit: People without swallowing symptoms or those who cannot have videofluoroscopy (for example due to medical or mobility limitations) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more consistent diagnosis and treatment of swallowing problems after cancer and reduce complications like aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition.
How similar studies have performed: The DIGEST scoring system has already been developed and used to grade pharyngeal dysphagia on videofluoroscopy, but broader clinic-wide adoption remains limited and is now being promoted through implementation efforts.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hutcheson, Katherine Arnold — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Hutcheson, Katherine Arnold
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.