Speech-language pathologists’ perceptions of the use of telepractice in the delivery of services to people with Parkinson’s disease: A national pilot survey

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the perceptions, use and interest to use telepractice by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to deliver services to people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD).

Method: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods online survey was conducted. Recruitment of SLPs with an active caseload of PwPD was conducted through non-probability, purposive sampling. Data were analysed using frequency distribution and thematic analysis.

Result: A total of 63 SLPs responded. The majority (82.5%) were interested in telepractice, but only 23.1% provided services to PwPD online. Monitoring of motor speech function, and therapy were the primary services delivered online. Of those who did not currently offer online services to PwPD, 77.5% expressed interest to use telepractice. The development of telepractice guidelines and a comprehensive list of available software were the resources most requested to assist clinicians in offering such services. Most perceived telepractice as an appropriate delivery method for speech-language pathology services. However, views regarding the preference for face-to-face delivery were divided.

Conclusion: SLPs view telepractice as a viable service delivery model for PwPD, but uptake of the model is variable. Several key barriers and resource limitations must be addressed to facilitate the implementation and sustainability of telepractice in clinical services.

Keywords:

• Parkinson’s disease
• telepractice
• speech-language pathology

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the participants who contributed their time to this project.

Declaration of interest

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

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2019.1650110.