In order for information to be relevant to clinicians, it needs to come from research that is both transparent and rigorous. Recently, a group of researchers have collaborated with a common goal of promoting replicable research in the field of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

The latest forum in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (AJSLP) contains a collection of research from the Framework for RigOr aNd Transparency in REsearRch on Swallowing (FRONTIERS) collaborative. This forum—from Guest Editors Anna Miles and Julie Regan—contains nine articles discussing the development of this framework. Learn more about the FRONTIERS forum below!

Increasing Rigor and Transparency

The forum opens with an introduction by Miles and Regan discussing the FRONTIERS framework and the articles in the forum. A prologue by Rogus-Pulia and colleagues highlights the origin of the project as a collaboration between researchers in swallowing labs.

Next, Gandhi and colleagues discuss the widely used videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), outlining the need for optimal reporting standards. Another popular tool, the flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), is the subject of an article by Burdick et al., who propose a checklist for dysphagia researchers using this tool.

Shapira-Galitz et al. discuss how researchers can standardize patient-reported outcome measures, which are important tools in swallowing research. Next, Brates and Peña-Chávez present guidelines that researchers can use when they screen and evaluate dysphagia using noninstrumental tools.

Exercise-based interventions to improve swallowing function may be reported inconsistently, something a checklist presented by Yee and colleagues aims to address. Werden Abrams et al. assert that researchers should address underreported participant characteristics that may impact access to assessment and intervention in swallowing studies. Finally, Steele and colleagues reviewed current EQUATOR Network guidelines, designed to improve published health research, for recommendations relevant to dysphagia research.

Transparent and Reproducible Research

We hope that this forum presents some ideas on how you can increase transparency and rigor in your own research. If you’d like to read more on this topic, a forum published last year in JSLHR provides researchers with further rationale and some practical ideas. You can learn more about our commitment to transparency and openness online, including how you can show your commitment to open science when publishing with ASHA Journals.

We’d like to thank Anna Miles and Julie Regan, Nicole Rogus-Pulia, Catriona M. Steele, and the entire FRONTIERS collaborative—and all the authors who helped bring this forum to AJSLP. You can read the entire forum in the September issue of AJSLP or explore the individual articles below!

Explore the Forum

Brates, D., & Peña-Chávez, R. (2024). Noninstrumental dysphagia assessment and screening: A proposed checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2177–2184. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-22-00174

Burdick, R. J., Dallal-York, J., & Shapira-Galitz, Y. (2024). Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing: A proposed checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2220–2229. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00182

Gandhi, P., Mancopes, R., & Steele, C. M. (2024). Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies: A proposed checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2157–2166. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00167

Miles, A., & Regan, J. (2024). Introducing the Framework for RigOr aNd Transparency In REseaRch on Swallowing (FRONTIERS): An editorial. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2127–2129. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00352

Rogus-Pulia, N., Affoo, R., Namasivayam-MacDonald, A., Noad, B., & Steele, C. M. (2024). A proposed framework for rigor and transparency in dysphagia research: Prologue. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2130–2156. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00368

Shapira-Galitz, Y., Anderson, A., & Balou, M. (2024). Patient-reported outcome measures for swallowing: A proposed checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2167–2176. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00403

Steele, C. M., Burdick, R. J., Dallal-York, J., & Shapira-Galitz, Y. (2024). EQUATOR Network mapping review for dysphagia research. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2207–2219. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-23-00306

Werden Abrams, S., Kurosu, A., & Namasivayam-MacDonald, A. (2024). Participant characteristics for dysphagia research: A proposed checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2196–2206. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-22-00183

Yee, J., Smaoui, S., & Rogus-Pulia,N. (2024). Exercise-based dysphagia treatment: A proposed checklist. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(5), 2185–2195. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-22-00179