Caregivers’ Feedback after Enrollment in the Community-Based Speech Therapy Model.

BACKGROUND

Khon Kaen University Community-Based Speech Therapy Model (KKUCSM) was conducted between 2012 and 2013 in Chiang Rai. Children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and speech assistants (SAs) enrolled four-day intensive and five one-day follow-up speech camps that were run by speech and language pathologists (SLPs). KKUCSM focused on quantity of reduction of articulation errors. Therefore, it is necessary to find reflection sounds from children with CLP’s caregivers for improving health care processes and services.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate caregivers’ reflection sounds after enrollment in the KKUCSM for a year.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Data were collected by a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews among 20 mothers, 4 grandmothers, and 2 siblings. Participants were divided into two groups, i.e., caregivers who did and did not enroll in speech camps. Focus group discussions obtained 45 minutes per group. Content analysis was used for data summary.

RESULTS

Caregivers who enrolled in the KKUCSM told that their children with CLP were very happy with their peers. They had high self-esteem, self-confidence, good health, and academic achievement. Caregivers expected that their children could have independent living. On the other hand, caregivers who did not enroll in the KKUCSM felt that their children with CLP had low self-esteem and confidence to communicate with other people. The caregivers’ concerns with their children involved image, family genetic, illness, psychosocial problems, relationship with other people, and articulation errors.

CONCLUSION

KKUCSM mainly provided speech correction and indirectly supported children with CLP’s quality of life (QOL) in psychosocial aspects and academic achievement. KKUCSM also relieved anxiety and improved family economic status.