The lecturer at the Fernando Pessoa Higher School of Health (ESS-FP), Professor Dr. Daniela Vieira, participated in the 16th Annual Congress of the European Society for Swallowing Disorders (ESSD), with an oral presentation titled «Oral hygiene interventions in oropharyngeal dysphagia: preliminary findings from a systematic review informing interdisciplinary care».

The congress, held from October 19 to 23, 2026 in Leiden, the Netherlands, and themed «Advances in Measurement in Dysphagia: Innovation and Best Practices», brought together researchers and healthcare professionals from different countries to discuss scientific, technological, and clinical advances in the evaluation and intervention in swallowing disorders. The communication presented by Dr. Daniela Vieira was part of the ORALDYS research project, developed in collaboration with Joana Maia, Marta Silva, and Pedro Barroso Moreira, bringing together contributions from Speech Therapy and Dental Medicine. The study consisted of a systematic review and meta-analysis of structured oral hygiene interventions in adults with oropharyngeal dysphagia or in populations with a high clinical risk of swallowing disorders, seeking to understand their contribution to the prevention of respiratory complications, particularly pneumonia. Nine scientific studies were analyzed, the results of which showed a favorable association between structured oral health care programs and the reduction of pneumonia-related events. Improvements were also observed in oral health indicators, although the results regarding swallowing, nutrition, and quality of life showed greater heterogeneity. The presentation also highlighted the importance of implementing interdisciplinary clinical protocols involving speech therapists, dentists, nurses, and caregivers, as well as the need for training and systematic monitoring of oral hygiene care.

Participation in this international congress was an opportunity to disseminate the results of the ORALDYS project among the European scientific community, promote knowledge sharing and strengthen the importance of interdisciplinary research in improving the safety and quality of care provided to people with dysphagia. This participation highlights the contribution of the Fernando Pessoa Higher School of Health to the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge with direct application in clinical practice, reinforcing its presence in international forums of reference in the field of health sciences.