ERIC Number: EJ1417733
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1368-2822
EISSN: EISSN-1460-6984
How Do Speech and Language Therapists Enact Aphasia Psychosocial Support in Ireland? A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Informed by Normalization Process Theory
Molly X. Manning; Caoimhe Cleary; Caitriona McCaughey
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, v59 n2 p698-714 2024
Background: Supporting psychosocial well-being in aphasia is necessarily person-centred, interdisciplinary and coordinated. Shortcomings in such support are described in Ireland and elsewhere. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) are integral; and describing current practice and barriers they experience is important for enhancing service delivery. Aims: To understand how SLTs enact, and are supported to enact, aphasia psychosocial care in Ireland. Methods & Procedures: This is a cross-sectional, online, self-administered clinician survey targeting SLTs working minimally 1 year post-qualification with persons with aphasia of any aetiology in Ireland. The survey questions were charted against key constructs of the implementation science framework, normalization process theory (NPT), and descriptive statistics were applied. Outcomes & Results: A total of 54 eligible datasets were included. SLTs believed psychosocial support to be part of their role, but perceived multiple barriers in enacting it. These included a lack of training, clinical supervision, management support, role recognition, and access to and joint working with mental health professionals and services. Conclusions & Implications: SLTs in Ireland face a range of individual and structural barriers, including care coordination and resourcing. There is a clear need not only for training, upskilling and mentorship, but also for wider changes around access to mental health professionals and clarity around the processes of referral, coordination and integration of aphasia care across settings. These findings comprise preliminary insights into current practices. Further research is needed as well as clarity on best-practice pathways for different aetiologies of aphasia. Articulating current practices using NPT may have utility for developing empirically informed and principled interventions to improve service delivery.
Descriptors: Aphasia, Allied Health Personnel, Speech Language Pathology, Psychological Patterns, Mental Health, Well Being, Physician Patient Relationship, Foreign Countries, Barriers, Access to Health Care
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://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A