Abstract:Objective To explore the role of Glasgow Coma Scale combined with the water swallow test in guiding the feeding and medication timing in patients undergoing modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT).Methods A total of 82 patients with mental disorders who underwent MECT at the Third Hospital of Mianyang from March to June 2023 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group using a random number table method, with 45 and 37 cases in the respective groups. After treatment, patients in the control group were assessed by medical staff based on clinical experience, while patients in the observation group were evaluated using both the Glasgow Coma Scale and the water swallow test. Based on the assessment results, feeding, fluid intake, and medication administration were guided accordingly. The timing of feeding, fluid intake, and medication administration, as well as the incidence of choking and aspiration and patient treatment satisfaction, were compared between the two groups after three consecutive sessions of MECT.Results After the first, second, and third MECT sessions, the times to feeding, fluid intake, and medication administration in the observation group were all longer than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The overall incidence of complications was lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the overall patient satisfaction rate was higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion The combined use of the Glasgow Coma Scale and the water swallow test enables more accurate determination of feeding and fluid intake timing in patients undergoing MECT, improves treatment experience and comfort, provides objective and quantitative criteria for feeding and medication timing, effectively reduces the occurrence of choking and aspiration after treatment, and enhances patient treatment satisfaction.