Department of Language & Communication Science, City, University of London, London, UK.
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University; Gold Coast Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Child Care Health Dev. 2024 Jan;50(1):e13159. doi: 10.1111/cch.13159. Epub 2023 Aug 9.
The COVID-19 pandemic and response changed clinical service delivery and practice for speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the United Kingdom. SLTs work with children with neurodisability regarding both difficulties with their communication and eating and drinking skills (oropharyngeal dysphagia). This survey aimed to specifically explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SLT practice for school-aged children with dysphagia.
UK-based SLTs working with school-aged children with neurodisability and oropharyngeal dysphagia were recruited to share their perceptions on the impact of COVID-19 on practice. Four questions focusing on COVID-19 impact were part of a larger online survey exploring SLT clinical practice regarding mealtime management of children with neurodisability and oropharyngeal dysphagia, which included demographic information, service delivery, assessment and intervention practices. COVID-19 impact questions were a mixture of multiple choice and free text responses. The survey was disseminated using professional networks and social media, between 14 May and 30 July 2021. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis.
One hundred and two participants answered at least one of the four COVID-19 questions. Eighty-two per cent of SLTs either agreed or strongly agreed that COVID-19 impacted on service delivery to children and families. Negative impacts on service delivery included school absences/closures, home visiting restrictions, families declining input and/or having barriers to telehealth use and the impact of mask wearing on interactions. Positive impacts included increased telehealth access and skills, increased contact with families and focus on children's eating and drinking function within the home environment. Participants aimed to maintain the increased contact with families alongside a hybrid service delivery approach of in-person and virtual appointments.
This survey provides novel information capturing SLT practice change across two waves of COVID-19 and return to in-person practice for UK children with neurodisability.
COVID-19 大流行及其应对措施改变了英国言语治疗师（SLT）的临床服务提供和实践。SLT 与神经发育障碍儿童合作，解决他们的沟通和饮食技能（口咽吞咽困难）方面的困难。本研究旨在专门探讨 COVID-19 对 SLT 治疗有吞咽困难的学龄儿童的实践的影响。
招募了在英国为神经发育障碍和口咽吞咽困难的学龄儿童工作的 SLT，以分享他们对 COVID-19 对实践影响的看法。该调查的重点是 COVID-19 对 SLT 实践的影响，其中包含四个问题，包括关于儿童神经发育障碍和口咽吞咽困难的用餐管理的在线调查的其他内容，其中包括人口统计学信息、服务提供、评估和干预措施。COVID-19 影响问题是多项选择和自由文本回答的混合体。该调查使用专业网络和社交媒体在 2021 年 5 月 14 日至 7 月 30 日之间进行了传播。使用描述性统计和定性内容分析对数据进行了分析。
102 名参与者至少回答了四个 COVID-19 问题中的一个。82%的 SLT 认为 COVID-19 对儿童和家庭的服务提供产生了影响。服务提供的负面影响包括学校缺勤/关闭、家访限制、家庭拒绝投入和/或远程医疗使用存在障碍以及佩戴口罩对互动的影响。积极影响包括远程医疗的获取和技能增加、与家庭的联系增加以及在家环境中关注儿童的饮食功能。参与者旨在保持与家庭的联系，同时采用面对面和虚拟预约的混合服务提供方式。
本研究通过 COVID-19 的两波疫情和返回英国神经发育障碍儿童的面对面实践，提供了新的信息，捕捉了 SLT 实践的变化。
