To develop a standardized speech-language pathology treatment protocol to systematically address Globus pharyngeus (GP) as a proof of concept
Globus pharyngeus (GP), often described as a persistent lump or tightness in the throat, accounting for 4% of new referrals to Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinics. This condition is reported in the literature in up to 46% of healthy individuals and has been shown to significantly impact patients' quality of life. The key diagnostic criteria for GP include at least 12 weeks duration of symptoms without dysphagia or gastroesophageal reflux as the causative symptom, and in the absence of major esophageal motor disorders. While the exact etiology of GP remains elusive, research suggests a multifactorial nature involving physical, psychological, and functional components. Behavioral therapy with a Speech-language pathologist is often recommended as a treatment option for patients with GP. A review of the literature examining SLP interventions for GP shows that SLP treatments lack standardization, leading to inconsistency and limited efficacy across therapeutic interventions. Therefore, there is an urgent need to further investigate behavioral interventions for GP and develop a standardized treatment protocol to address the condition systematically.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
The SLP intervention protocol consists of six components, all of which will be implemented by the treating speech-language pathologist
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
RECRUITINGLaryngopharyngeal Measure of Perceived Sensation (LUMP)
Laryngopharyngeal Measure of Perceived Sensation (LUMP) to assess GP symptom severity - The Laryngopharyngeal Measure of Perceived Sensation (LUMP) scoring system is a patient-reported questionnaire used to assess the severity of throat sensations like globus sensation (lump in the throat) - where each item on the scale is rated 0 (never) to 4 (always), with a higher score indicating greater symptom severity - A LUMP score greater than or equal to 3 should be considered abnormal and warrants additional attention.
Time frame: Year 1
Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10)
Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10) to assess for dysphagia complaints - The Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) is increasingly used to screen for self-perceived oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) in community-dwelling elders. A summated EAT-10 total score ranges from 0 to 40, with a score ≥ 3 is abnormal
Time frame: Year 1
Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10)
Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) to measure voice-related quality of life - The Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) is a patient-reported outcome measure that scores voice-related handicap on a scale of 0-40: Normal or nearly normal: Scores of 0-10 Abnormal: Scores above 11 Greater handicap: Higher scores indicate a greater voice-related handicap
Time frame: Year 1
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to assess for anxiety - The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) is a self-report scale that assesses anxiety and worry symptoms. The GAD-7 score is calculated by adding up the scores for each of the seven items, with scores ranging from 0 to 21 - Score 0-4: Minimal Anxiety. Score 5-9: Mild Anxiety. Score 10-14: Moderate Anxiety. Score greater than 15: Severe Anxiety
Time frame: Year 1
Numeric Rating Scale for throat pain
0-10 Numeric Rating Scale for throat pain to assess for throat pain - a scale from 0 to 10, where "0" represents "no throat pain" and "10" represents "the worst throat pain imaginable
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Time frame: Year 1