Access, Referral, Service Provision and Management of Individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Survey of Speech-Language Therapists in Italy

Autor/inn/en	Battista, Petronilla; Piccininni, Marco; Montembeault, Maxime; Messina, Annachiara; Minafra, Brigida; Miller, Bruce L.; Henry, Maya L.; Gorno Tempini, Maria Luisa; Grasso, Stephanie M.
Titel	Access, Referral, Service Provision and Management of Individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Survey of Speech-Language Therapists in Italy
Quelle	In: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 58 (2023) 4, S.1046-1060 (15 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Battista, Petronilla)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1368-2822
DOI	10.1111/1460-6984.12843
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Speech Language Pathology; Speech Therapy; Allied Health Personnel; Referral; Aphasia; Patients; Clinical Diagnosis; Intervention; Professional Associations; Online Surveys; Health Services; Rehabilitation; Access to Health Care; Italy + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Entwicklungsproximale Sprachtherapie; Logotherapie; Expressive Aphasie; Aphasie; Patient; Health service; Gesundheitsdienst; Gesundheitswesen; Italien
Abstract	Background and Objectives: In Italy, approximately 650 individuals receive a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) every year. Unfortunately, the frequency with which patients are referred to speech-language services is suboptimal, likely due to skepticism regarding the value of speech-language therapy in the context of neurodegeneration. Materials and Methods: We conducted a virtual survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) across Italy, to collect information about the assessment, intervention and management of patients with PPA. To ensure that as many SLTs as possible received the survey, the Italian Federation of SLTs (Federazione Logopedisti Italiani, FLI) aided in disseminating the survey. Results: In total, 336 respondents participated in the online survey, 140 of whom had previous experience with PPA patients. Respondents indicated having seen a total of 428 PPA patients in the previous 24 months (three patients on average, range: 0-40). SLTs who reported never working with PPA identified underdiagnoses, low referral rates and the rarity of the clinical syndrome as major reasons for their lack of experience with PPA. SLTs with experience working with PPA indicated that patients may not have accessed services because of service dysfunction and geographical barriers. Respondents reported using informal interviews during assessments and tests developed for post-stroke aphasia, while impairment-based/restitutive interventions were utilised most often. Conclusion: Findings may serve to inform health policy organisations regarding the current shortcomings and needed recommendations for improving the care of individuals with PPA in Italy. Improving awareness of the utility of rehabilitation among SLTs and other clinical service providers may serve to facilitate access to intervention, which in turn will serve to better support individuals living with PPA. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01