{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T13:28:47Z","timestamp":1787923727917,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787875200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To systematically evaluate the efficacy of video game-based interventions on swallowing function and swallowing-related quality of life in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase from inception to July 13th, 2026. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating video game-based training for post-stroke dysphagia were included. The primary outcome was the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). Secondary outcomes included the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) and swallowing-related quality of life (SWAL-QOL\/DHI). The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Six randomized controlled trials randomized a total of 309 participants, of whom 300 contributed data to the meta-analysis. Video game-based interventions significantly improved FOIS scores (WMD = 0.78, 95% CI [0.36, 1.21],\n                      <jats:italic>P<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.0003; low GRADE certainty), though heterogeneity was substantial (\n                      <jats:italic>I<\/jats:italic>\n                      <jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup>\n                      = 74%). Sensitivity analysis identified one outlying study; after its exclusion, heterogeneity was reduced to zero, and the effect remained significant and consistent (moderate certainty). Video game-based training also significantly reduced SSA scores (WMD = \u22122.14, 95% CI [\u22123.55, \u22120.74]; moderate GRADE certainty) and improved swallowing-related quality of life (WMD = \u221215.07, 95% CI [\u221221.61, \u22128.52]; low GRADE certainty due to imprecision).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The evidence suggests that video game-based interventions improve swallowing function and quality of life in post-stroke dysphagia. However, given the limited number of included trials, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Larger, well-designed RCTs are warranted to confirm the clinical utility and to clarify the differential effects of intervention technologies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/PROSPERO\/view\/CRD420261359653<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      , identifier: CRD420261359653.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2026.1889031","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T12:48:26Z","timestamp":1787921306000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Video game-based interventions for post-stroke dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Qiaoqiao","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiayang","family":"Qu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lili","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University","place":["Hangzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Guihua","family":"Zhong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University","place":["Hangzhou, 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