App-Assisted Swallowing Program After Oral Cancer Surgery

NCT ID: NCT07301047

Last Updated: 2025-12-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

72 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-01-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This study aims to examine the effects of a swallowing care program combined with an exercise mobile application (App) on swallowing function, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with oral cancer after flap reconstruction surgery. The goal is to determine whether integrating App-based swallowing exercises into postoperative care can improve rehabilitation outcomes compared with conventional care alone.

A purposive sampling method will be used to recruit 72 participants from the surgical wards of a medical center in northern Taiwan. Eligible patients scheduled for oral cancer tumor resection and flap reconstruction will be identified through consultation with plastic surgeons. After screening and informed consent, participants will be assigned to a control group or an experimental group, with approximately 36 patients in each group.

The control group will receive routine ward education and standard postoperative nursing care, while the experimental group will receive the same care plus an additional intervention using a swallowing exercise App. The intervention will begin on postoperative day 7, guided by the researcher. Follow-up assessments will be conducted during outpatient visits at postoperative week 4 and week 12. To minimize potential interference between participants, data collection will be performed sequentially-first for the control group, followed by the experimental group.

Data will be collected through self-administered questionnaires or researcher-assisted interviews, including a demographic survey, the Postoperative Oral Dysfunction-10 (POD-10), the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), a Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety, and the EORTC QLQ-H\&N35 questionnaire for quality of life. Each assessment will take approximately 20-30 minutes. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participant characteristics. The chi-square test and independent t-test will be used to examine group homogeneity. Paired t-tests will be applied to evaluate within-group changes in swallowing function, anxiety, and quality of life before and after the intervention. The results of this study are expected to provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of App-assisted swallowing rehabilitation for patients with oral cancer following reconstructive surgery, supporting the development of innovative, technology-based postoperative care models.

Detailed Description

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This study adopts a purposive sampling method and will be conducted in surgical wards of a medical center in northern Taiwan. A total of 72 participants will be recruited, with approximately 36 patients in the experimental group and 36 in the control group, based on the sample size estimation.

Participants will be identified by the researcher through consultation with plastic surgeons regarding patients scheduled for oral cancer tumor resection and flap reconstruction surgery. Eligible patients will be screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. One day before surgery, the researcher will explain the study purpose and procedures to each patient. Those who agree to participate will sign an informed consent form and complete the baseline questionnaires either by self-administration or interview.

After surgery, when patients return to the ward, the intervention will begin on postoperative day 7. Participants will be divided into two groups:

Control group: receives routine ward education and standard postoperative care. Experimental group: receives the same routine care plus an additional intervention using a swallowing exercise mobile application (App). The researcher will assist participants in downloading and using the App.

Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after surgery during outpatient clinic visits. To prevent contamination between participants, data will be collected sequentially-first from the control group and then from the experimental group.

Data collection instruments include a demographic questionnaire, the Postoperative Oral Dysfunction-10 (POD-10), Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety, and EORTC QLQ-H\&N35 for quality of life. Each interview or questionnaire session will take approximately 20-30 minutes. Participants may withdraw at any time during the data collection process without penalty.

Data analysis will be performed using descriptive statistics to summarize participant characteristics. Homogeneity between groups will be tested using chi-square and independent t-tests. Paired t-tests will be used to compare pre- and post-intervention differences within groups. The study aims to evaluate the effects of an App-based swallowing exercise intervention on swallowing function, anxiety, and quality of life among patients with oral cancer after flap reconstruction surgery.

Conditions

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Oral Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Postoperative

Keywords

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Oral Cancer Postoperative Reconstructive Surgery

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SEQUENTIAL

This study adopts a quasi-experimental design using a non-randomized, two-group, pretest-posttest model. Participants are assigned sequentially to either the control or experimental group to avoid potential contamination between participants. The control group receives routine postoperative care, while the experimental group receives the same care plus an additional intervention using a swallowing exercise mobile application (App). Outcomes, including swallowing function, anxiety, and quality of life, are measured at baseline (pre-intervention), 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after surgery.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Swallowing Care + Exercise App Intervention

Participants receive a swallowing care program combined with a mobile exercise App, starting on postoperative day 7. The App provides guided swallowing exercises, reminders, and progress tracking. Follow-up assessments at weeks 4 and 12.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Swallowing Care + Exercise App

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants receive a swallowing care program combined with a mobile exercise App, starting on postoperative day 7. The App provides guided swallowing exercises, reminders, and progress tracking. Follow-up assessments at weeks 4 and 12.

Routine Postoperative Care

Participants receive standard postoperative care and routine ward education without the App-based swallowing intervention. Assessments at the same time points as the experimental group.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Routine Postoperative Care

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants receive standard postoperative care and routine ward education without the App-based swallowing intervention. Assessments at the same time points as the experimental group.

Interventions

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Swallowing Care + Exercise App

Participants receive a swallowing care program combined with a mobile exercise App, starting on postoperative day 7. The App provides guided swallowing exercises, reminders, and progress tracking. Follow-up assessments at weeks 4 and 12.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Routine Postoperative Care

Participants receive standard postoperative care and routine ward education without the App-based swallowing intervention. Assessments at the same time points as the experimental group.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Willing to sign a written informed consent form
* Diagnosed with oral cancer
* Hospitalized for first-time oral cancer tumor resection and flap reconstruction surgery
* Aged 18 years or older
* Conscious and mentally clear
* Able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese

Exclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed by a physician with poor postoperative wound healing that prevents participation in oral rehabilitation exercises
* Unable to perform oral rehabilitation exercises within one week after surgery, as determined by a physician

Withdrawal Criteria:

-Participants who withdraw consent at any time during the study will be excluded from further participation
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Wenchuan Hsu, MS

nursing supervisor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Yean Hsiao Chiu, PHD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Taipei Medical University

Locations

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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch

Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Site Status

Countries

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Taiwan

Central Contacts

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CHUAN WEN HSU, Master

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 886+0975367585

Email: [email protected]

Study Documents

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Document Type: No individual participant data (IPD) or supporting documents will be shared. Only aggregated study results may be published in journals or presented at conferences.

View Document

Related Links

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https://www.cgmh.org.tw/

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Official Website

Other Identifiers

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202501330B0

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id