Changes in Telepractice Use and Perspectives among Speech and Language Therapists in Singapore through the COVID-19 Pandemic

Autor/inn/en	Peh, Hui Peng; Yee, Kaisin; Mantaring, Ericka Joinelle Nicdao
Titel	Changes in Telepractice Use and Perspectives among Speech and Language Therapists in Singapore through the COVID-19 Pandemic
Quelle	In: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 58 (2023) 3, S.802-812 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Peh, Hui Peng)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1368-2822
DOI	10.1111/1460-6984.12823
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Speech Language Pathology; Allied Health Personnel; Telecommunications; Videoconferencing; Attitudes; Change; COVID-19; Pandemics; Time Perspective; Physical Disabilities; Human Body; Attitude Change; Singapore + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Telekommunikationstechnik; Attitude; Einstellung; Verhalten; Wandel; Zeitbezug; Physical handicap; Körperbehinderung; Menschlicher Körper; Attitudinal change; Einstellungsänderung; Singapur
Abstract	Background: Much has been written about the changes in use and perspectives of telepractice among speech and language therapists (SLTs) during the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, no long-term study has been done to examine whether there is a permanent shift in attitudes towards telepractice as the world adjusts to new norms and endemic COVID-19. Aims: To compare the speech telepractice use and perspectives of SLTs at two time points of the pandemic--during and after the height of the pandemic. Methods & Procedures: Two online surveys were distributed a year apart among SLTs in Singapore. The first survey was disseminated during an initial lockdown period in 2020 and the second survey was done in 2021 when Singapore was starting to reduce strict quarantine and safe-distancing regulations. These surveys were distributed via communication channels of the local speech therapy association. A total of 115 and 71 responses to the survey were collected in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Responses were captured and analysed using descriptive statistics and statistical analysis while qualitative content analysis was used to derive key themes from open-ended questions. Outcomes & Results: Telepractice use across all age groups and client types peaked at the height of the pandemic. Even as lockdown measures were eased, telepractice utilization was still higher than what it was before the pandemic. Dysphagia management was the only area where SLTs reduced their use of telepractice during the stabilization phase. After more experience with telepractice during the height of the pandemic, SLTs acknowledged the benefit of being able to use a wide range of media through telepractice and were less worried about not having the resources or knowledge to set up telepractice. SLTs also reported increased confidence in providing telepractice, which was reflected in their willingness to continue to provide telepractice even after the pandemic ends. Conclusions & Implications: The increase in use of telepractice during this pandemic is likely to be sustained as a majority of respondents believed they would continue to provide this mode of service delivery even after the pandemic ends. However, clinicians will still have to assess for client suitability, as clients with more complex medical or behavioural issues may still require in-person therapy. Additionally, dysphagia management via telepractice will still be limited given that swallow presentations may be more variable. Lastly, although generic resources are helpful for clinicians, the long-term sustainability of telepractice can be boosted by the sharing of resources that are suitable for the local context. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01