Speech-language pathology research in the Philippines in retrospect: Perspectives from a developing country

Abstract

Purpose: There is a need for speech-language pathology (SLP) research in the Philippines, in order to fill in knowledge gaps relevant to the local context. Information about the local SLP research status remains inadequate. This study describes local SLP research done over the almost past four decades.

Method: Using a descriptive retrospective design, a search was made for all empirical research articles completed by Filipino SLPs from 1978 to 2015.

Result: A total of 250 research articles were identified and described along several parameters. A predominant number were authored by the SLPs in the academe (97.20%). There was a focus on language (27.60%) and the nature of communication/swallowing disorders (20.80%). More than half utilised quantitative exploratory research designs (69.20%). Several used survey forms to generate data (38.41%). Nearly all were unpublished (93.60%) and were unfunded (94.80%).

Conclusion: The current study revealed a dearth of research studies, limited diversity of research articles, limited research dissemination and funding concerns. It is suggested that the results of the current study can serve as a reference point to restructure research systems in the Philippines and in other developing countries, and offer data that can be used to develop a research agenda for the profession.

Keywords:

• Filipino
• research trends
• research development
• research status
• descriptive
• retrospective

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Kathleen Amora, Fendi Bautista, Isha Casuyon, Mariel dela Cruz, Elizabeth Mandac, Monica Noble, Dawn Pecson, Princess Reoma, Jam Reyes, Denzel Samala, Aila Salvadora, Liza Seminiano, Ma. Celina Tanchuling, Maolin Yalung and Katherine Zamora for their assistance in the data collection and preliminary data analysis of this research. Special thanks are also given to Prof. Edward Gorgon for his ideas and feedback on the development of this research, and to Prof. Jocelyn Marzan and Prof. Yves Palad for their inputs in data analyses and in the writing of the research manuscript. The authors are also thankful to the Filipino speech-language pathologists who willingly participated in our study by sending to us copies of their research articles and answering our queries.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.