The role of speech-language pathology weekend service in inpatient subacute care: A national survey

Limited evidence is available on speech-language pathology (SLP) weekend services within the subacute inpatient setting. This study aimed to describe Australian SLP weekend services for stroke adult inpatients in subacute units and to explore clinicians’ perspectives on factors that influence the delivery of the service. Speech-language pathologists who worked in Australian subacute hospital-based units participated in an online cross-sectional survey. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were undertaken to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. From the total of 83 participating clinicians, 20 (24%) worked in rehabilitation units that provided an SLP weekend service. Assessments and reviews were the main clinical activities provided to stroke inpatients by this service. Workforce and evidence were commonly cited as facilitators and barriers to both the implementation of a new service and the continuation of an existing service. The “ideal” SLP weekend subacute service to stroke inpatients was typically described as a combination of assessment, therapy, education and training. Findings from this study’s sample indicate that an SLP weekend inpatient rehabilitation service to stroke inpatients was not standard practice. Different perspectives regarding the purpose and need of an SLP weekend service were reported.

目前针对亚急性住院病房场景下言语语言病理学（speech-language pathology, SLP）周末服务的相关研究证据较为匮乏。本研究旨在梳理澳大利亚亚急性病房内针对成年脑卒中住院患者的SLP周末服务现状，并探究临床医护人员对影响该服务实施的各类因素的看法。供职于澳大利亚医院亚急性病房的言语语言病理师参与了本次在线横断面调查。研究采用描述性统计与内容分析法，对定量及定性数据开展分析工作。在共计83名参与调查的临床人员中，有20人（占比24%）所在的康复病房提供SLP周末服务。该服务面向脑卒中住院患者提供的核心临床业务为评估与随访审查。人员配置与循证依据，常被视为新增服务落地与现有服务延续的共同促进因素与阻碍因素。针对脑卒中住院患者的理想亚急性病房SLP周末服务模式，通常被表述为集评估、治疗、教育与培训于一体的综合服务。本次研究样本的结果显示，为脑卒中住院患者提供SLP周末住院康复服务，尚未成为行业常规操作。参与调查的临床人员针对SLP周末服务的定位与必要性持有不同看法。