Validation of the German Version of the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale

The aim of this study was to validate the German Version of the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale and to investigate the impact of rater experience and training. The English original scale was translated into German language using a forward–backward method. For the validation, 30 images of different pharyngeal residue amounts have been selected and assigned to the scales’ severity levels by two experts. 28 raters rated the images in randomized order in two passes. To investigate the impact of experience and training, raters were grouped into subgroups. Statistical analysis was carried out using kappa statistics. The results demonstrate excellent residue ratings for construct validity, inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability regarding overall group and all subgroups (Kappa > 0.90). No significant differences were found between groups by experience and inconstant differences were found between groups by training. The German version of the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale is a valid, reliable instrument for scoring location and severity of pharyngeal residue in the context of flexible endoscopic evaluations of swallowing.