Barriers and Facilitators in Using Surface Electromyography in Swallowing Management: An Implementation Science Study

Area of Science:

• Clinical practice
• Rehabilitation technology
• Speech-language pathology

Background:

• Surface electromyography (sEMG) offers potential for swallowing management but faces implementation challenges.
• Understanding clinician-perceived barriers and facilitators is crucial for technology adoption in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and facilitators for implementing surface electromyography (sEMG) in swallowing management.
• To implement sEMG biofeedback using targeted strategies and assess its use in clinical practice.
• To evaluate speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perceptions of sEMG benefits and drawbacks post-implementation.

Main Methods:

• A pre-implementation survey assessed SLPs' current practices, barriers, and facilitators regarding sEMG.
• An implementation phase involved training six SLPs who used sEMG with patients during swallowing sessions.
• Post-implementation surveys and focus groups gathered SLPs' experiences and suggestions for improvement.

Main Results:

• Most surveyed SLPs did not use sEMG, citing lack of knowledge/training and equipment access as primary barriers.
• Participating SLPs found sEMG easy to use, effective in teaching swallowing maneuvers, and motivating for patients.
• Suggestions for improved implementation included ongoing training and mentoring.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative research and clinical work are vital for translating new technologies like sEMG into practice.
• Identifying and addressing implementation determinants is key to the successful adoption of sEMG in swallowing rehabilitation.