The effects of visual interventions on swallowing food on the psychology and body of the eater

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11280
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Masuda Wataru 九州女子大学, 家政学部, 准教授 (80295865)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 白石 美恵 九州女子大学, 家政学部, 准教授 (10813727) ; 花沢 明俊 九州工業大学, 大学院工学研究院, 准教授 (10280588) ; 吉野 賢一 九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (90201029)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 嚥下食 / 視覚的介入 / 拡張現実（AR） / 喫食率

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated whether a visual intervention for swallowing improves food consumption. Subjects were asked to eat three types of meals: a normal meal, a swallowed meal, and a swallowed meal with an augmented reality (AR) tablet showing a 3D image of the normal meal (swallowed meal + AR). In addition, a self-administered questionnaire was given before and after the meal, and a subjective evaluation was made using the VAS. The results showed that the eating rate significantly decreased for the swallowed meal compared to the normal meal, but increased significantly for the swallowed meal + AR compared to the swallowed meal. A positive correlation was observed between "taste" and eating rate, and between "appearance" and eating rate. These results confirm the importance of visual elements in eating.

Free Research Field

生化学・解剖生理学　摂食嚥下リハビリテーション学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

これまで嚥下食は、栄養学的な側面、味覚・嗅覚的側面、そして形状や物性等の機能的側面を中心に研究されてきた。しかし、普通食と嚥下食との間には視覚的に大きな隔たりがあるにもかかわらず、これまで視覚的な側面についてはほとんど研究されてこなかった。今回の研究結果より、食事における視覚的要素の重要性が確認できたとともに、普通食の3D 画像をAR介入させた状態で嚥下食を摂ることによって、嚥下食で低下した喫食率を回復させることができる可能性が示唆された。このことは、摂食嚥下障害者のQOLの維持・向上と健康寿命の延伸に寄与する新しい摂食嚥下リハ手段の一助となると考える。