Australian speech pathologists' views of what professional practices lead to successful outcomes of therapy

The relative importance attributed to factors perceived by speech pathologists as contributing to successful levels of therapeutic outcomes were addressed in a survey of 372 practicing therapists in Australia. The survey consisted of 42 items derived from interviews with a sample of ten speech pathologists in Sydney. Therapists were asked to rate the importance of each item on a seven-point scale ranging from "not at all important" to "critically important." The findings indicate that the most important ingredients of successful therapy incorporate a mix of support and therapeutic activity outside the clinic; the clinicians' organizational skills and involvement in conducting therapy and their use of techniques; the positive therapeutic relationship between clinician and client; and, finally, the client's attitude to therapy. These findings suggest that speech pathologists, like other allied health professionals, endorse a humanistic or holistic approach to health care. The results provide insights into the practices that should be addressed and fostered in undergraduate speech pathology programs.