Benefits of nursing interventions in preventing complications in the elderly with alterations in swallowing after stroke

Introduction: Stroke, the most common cerebrovascular disease in the elderly population, is the leading cause of death in Portugal. Changes in swallowing, one of the most common sequelae of this neurological event, have a negative impact on the person’s prognosis, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates, due to the risk of dehydration, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. Nurses, the health professionals who participate more actively in feeding and patient supervision, may play a key role in the early detection of swallowing changes in this population. Objective: To identify the benefits of nursing interventions in the prevention of complications in the elderly with changes in swallowing after stroke. Method: Systematic review that led to the search in the EBSCOHost search engine, in the databases CINAHL Complete and MEDLINE Complete, to identify studies published between 2015 and 2019, using the descriptors “stroke”, “intervention”, “nurse” “ and “deglutition disorders “. After implementing the inclusion and exclusion criteria and evaluating the methodological quality of the results obtained, three studies were selected. The levels of evidence were assured by the levels of evidence proposed by Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt. Results: Nursing interventions for the elderly with changes in swallowing after stroke can contribute to improvements in the prevention of complications, well-being and self-care, health promotion and continuity of care. Conclusion: The benefits of nursing interventions to the elderly with changes in swallowing after stroke are evident. However, in view of the scarcity of studies on the subject, it is suggested that more quantitative studies be carried out, with more representative samples.