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"Many wasted months": Stakeholders' perspectives about waiting for speech-language pathology services.
- Source :
- International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology; Jun2020, Vol. 22 Issue 3, p313-326, 14p, 1 Diagram, 1 Chart
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Purpose: High demand for speech-language pathology services is reflected in long waiting lists. Waiting can be active or passive and has implications for stakeholders, including consumers, professionals, and organisations. The present study explored experiences and perspectives regarding waiting for speech-language pathology services through analysis of stakeholders' written submissions to an Australian Government Senate Inquiry. Method: Written submissions (n = 337) were screened for terms related to waiting. Included submissions (n = 133) were written by organisations (36.8%), speech-language pathologists (29.3%), parents (27.8%), individuals with communication and/or swallowing difficulties (5.3%), and others. Result: Inductive thematic analysis identified three themes. (1) Duration. Consistently described as long. (2) Consequences. Consumers' consequences included: burden on physical health, finances, time, emotional wellbeing, and relationships, reduced continuity of care, and increased intervention needs. Professional consequences included: stress and burnout impacting job satisfaction, and reduced effectiveness. Societal consequences included: social and ethical burden, and a drain on health and legal systems. (3) Actions. Consumers advocated and sought alternatives (e.g. threats to harm their child, relocation to a capital city), professionals implemented service delivery and policy actions, and organisations lacked effective system-wide strategies. Conclusion: Existing services did not appear to meet stakeholders' needs. Action is needed to improve speech-language pathology waiting lists and access to services, and minimise possible consequences for stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- MEDICAL care
PSYCHOLOGICAL burnout
CLINICAL competence
COMMUNICATIVE disorders
CONTINUUM of care
CORPORATE culture
DEGLUTITION disorders
EMOTIONS
EXPERIENCE
HEALTH care rationing
HELP-seeking behavior
INTERPERSONAL relations
JOB satisfaction
EVALUATION of medical care
MEDICAL needs assessment
MEDICAL personnel
HEALTH policy
MEDICAL protocols
PATIENT advocacy
PRACTICAL politics
QUALITY assurance
SPEECH therapists
SPEECH therapy
PHYSIOLOGICAL stress
TIME
WRITING
EMPLOYEE retention
QUALITATIVE research
RELOCATION
SOCIOECONOMIC factors
WELL-being
THEMATIC analysis
CAREGIVER attitudes
PARENT attitudes
PATIENTS' attitudes
ATTITUDES of medical personnel
HEALTH & social status
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17549507
- Volume :
- 22
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 144667282
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2020.1747541