Communication partner training in traumatic brain injury: a UK survey of Speech and Language Therapists’ clinical practice

Abstract

While 96% reported training familiar communication partners, only 58% reported training unfamiliar communication partners. Therapists reported providing communication partner training consistent with best practice 43% of the time. Evidence-based published programmes were used by 13.8% and 19.9% of participants for training familiar and unfamiliar partners respectively. Therapists reported using outcomes for familiar and unfamiliar communication partners 83% and 78% of the time. The most frequently-reported barrier was lack of behavioural regulation (e.g., planning). Most frequent perceived facilitators were clinicians wanting to deliver communication partner training and that training was part of therapists' professional role (social professional role and identity).Conclusions: Therapists were motivated to deliver communication partner training but reduced capability affected implementation. Further support to clinicians on outcome measurement with materials to develop workplace systems to monitor implementation are needed.

Approaches to tracheoesophageal voice rehabilitation: a survey of the UK and Irish speech and language therapists’ current practice and beliefs

“…Nearly two-thirds of participants reported insufficient resources to undertake tracheoesophageal voice work, citing lack of time, experienced staffing and environmental resources. This accords with previous surveys of SLT practice (Behn et al, 2020;Conway & Walshe, 2015;Cruice et al, 2020) and of the NHS Long Term Plan finding (NHS, 2019) that SLTs are in short supply nationally. Evidence submitted by the RCSLT to the Health and Social Care committee highlighted that this shortage is particularly prevalent in head and neck/ENT specializing SLTs and has been exacerbated by the post-COVID pandemic backlog (RCSLT, 2021).…”

“…Results aligned with surveys of SLTs practice across clinical areas (acquired brain injury, Behn et al., 2020; aphasia, Cruice et al., 2020), where lack of skills, knowledge and training were among barriers to therapy implementation. SLTs expressed a clear belief of what knowledge and skills were required for tracheoesophageal voice rehabilitation.…”

“…A 35‐item self‐administered online open survey was designed using the Qualtrics XM survey platform. Demographics questions ( n = 7) were adapted from a previous survey of the UK SLTs’ clinical practice (Behn et al., 2020). Survey items aligned to capability ( n = 12), opportunity ( n = 5) and motivation ( n = 11) and explored theoretical knowledge, clinical training and practice, barriers and facilitators.…”

“…The BCW is an established model of behaviour change theory used to identify factors contributing to implementation of practice and behaviour change in the healthcare setting. This framework has been applied previously in quantitative healthcare survey design (Behn et al, 2020;Gould et al, 2017). For behaviour to happen, the individual or group must have the capability, opportunity and motivation to achieve the behaviour (Michie et al, 2011).…”

A Communication Partner Training Program Delivered via Telehealth for People Living With Parkinson's (Better Conversations With Parkinson's): Protocol for a Feasibility Study

“…Communication partner training (CPT) is an umbrella term for a therapy approach that involves working with a person with a communication difficulty and their conversation partner (CP; eg, a health professional, a family member, or a friend they regularly converse with) to improve everyday conversations. CPT is effective for a range of communication difficulties, such as aphasia [ 11 ], traumatic brain injury [ 12 ], and dementia [ 13 ]. Evidence suggests that CPT is effective at improving the knowledge, communication skills, and attitudes of communication partners [ 11 , 14 - 16 ].…”