Impact of Virtual Care on Speech-Language Services

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation medicine
• Pediatric therapy
• Telehealth

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered rehabilitation service delivery, particularly in speech-language pathology.
• Virtual care, previously used selectively, became essential for continuity of pediatric speech-language services in Canada.
• This study addresses the need to understand SLPs' experiences with this rapid shift.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) perspectives on the effectiveness of virtual care for children during the pandemic.
• To explore SLPs' experiences, including barriers and facilitators, with virtual speech therapy.
• To understand SLPs' views on future models of pediatric speech-language service delivery.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to SLPs in Canada who provided virtual services to children during the pandemic.
• Survey questions were informed by previous focus group interviews with SLPs.
• Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative responses were categorized.

Main Results:

• A majority of surveyed SLPs (over 90%) found virtual care to be effective (very/extremely or somewhat).
• Key barriers included limited family technology access, inadequate home workspace, and caregiver availability. Services for children with complex needs were more challenging virtually.
• Positive aspects included enhanced caregiver engagement and improved SLP work-life balance. 84% of SLPs preferred a hybrid model for future services.

Conclusions:

• Speech-language pathologists largely perceived virtual care as effective for pediatric services during the pandemic.
• Practitioners expressed a strong preference for hybrid models integrating virtual and in-person care post-pandemic.
• Further research is recommended to identify specific virtual care components that optimize service delivery for children.