Table 5 Example: bulleted summary

• Most evidence relates to people with neurogenic dysphagia following stroke. In this population:

 ∘ There is low to moderate certainty evidence from RCTs, including a moderately sized and methodologically strong trial, that Phagenyx may not change clinical outcomes in the general population of people with dysphagia following stroke. This is directly relevant evidence to the UK NHS.

 ∘ In people with dysphagia and tracheotomy following stroke, there is moderate certainty evidence from small but well-conducted RCTs that decannulation is probably more likely in people treated with Phagenyx. This evidence is limited by imprecision but directly relevant to the UK NHS.

 ∘ There is indirectly relevant evidence from a Cochrane systematic review that, in people with dysphagia following stroke, swallowing therapy of any type probably has no effect on mortality but probably does reduce the length of inpatient stay (moderate certainty evidence) and may reduce the proportion of people with dysphagia (low certainty evidence). Trials of Phagenyx contributed to this much wider review.

• There is limited non-randomised evidence assessing pharyngeal electrical stimulation in people with dysphagia due to causes other than stroke (people with multiple sclerosis and people in ICU).

• Further research may change the findings; the number of people involved is relatively low and new studies could substantially change the results.