Table 2 Intervention time, multidisciplinary team, and availability of assessment and therapy tool (n = 65)

Before RT — with all patients

5 (7.8)

Before RT — only with patients who are motivated or complaining of difficulty swallowing

13 (20.3)

During RT — with all patients

0 (0.0)

During RT — only patients who are motivated or complaining of difficulty swallowing

4 (6.3)

In the first 3 months after RT — with all patients

6 (9.4)

In the first 3 months after RT — only patients who are motivated or complaining of difficulty swallowing

15 (23.4)

After 3 months post-RT — with all patients

0 (0.0)

After 3 months post-RT — only patients who are motivated or complaining of difficulty swallowing

21 (32.8)

Management of multidisciplinary team (MDT)

 No official MDT, only written referral to SLP

30 (46.2)

 No official MDT but ENT specialists hold oral meetings with SLP to refer certain cases

28 (43.1)

 No official MDT but ENT specialists hold oral meetings with SLP to refer all cases

7 (10.7)

Availability of assessment tools

 Only swallowing screening tool

2 (3.1)

 Only swallowing screening tool and FEES procedure

56 (86.1)

 Swallowing screening, FEES, and VFSS

7 (10.8)

Availability of therapy tools

 No therapy tool

5 (7.8)

 Only essential therapy tools or a set of therapy tools frequently used, such as a promotor exerciser

13 (20.0)

 Only a few sets of frequently used therapy tools, such as chewy tubes, ice finger, and dysphagia cup

37 (56.9)

 Several therapy tools and at least one high-tech therapy tool, such as VitalStim, SEMG, and Iowa (IOPI)

9 (13.8)

 Complete therapy tools and several high-tech therapy tools, such as VitalStim, SEMG, and Iowa Oral Performance (IOPI)

1 (1.5)