Speech pathologists' perspectives when managing adults following traumatic brain injury in community-based rehabilitation settings: A qualitative investigation

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Kelly, Crystal
Cornwell, Petrea
Copley, Anna
Hewetson, Ronelle
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2022
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Abstract

Purpose: Across Australia and New Zealand, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) routinely assess and treat adults with cognitive-communication disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Despite their regular involvement, little is known about how clinicians provide management to this client group, particularly in community-based contexts. Therefore the aim of this study is to explore the clinical practices of SLPs who have experience working in community-based rehabilitation services with adults with cognitive-communication disorders following TBI. Method: A qualitative descriptive study using one-on-one semi-structured interviews was conducted as part of an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Fourteen SLPs with experience working with individuals with TBI completed an interview with content analysis used to explore the data. Result: The overarching theme identified was that a “Client-centred and inclusive approach to community-based rehabilitation services” is required. The three subthemes to emerge from the data included the importance of utilising a (1) “flexible service delivery approach”, with (2) “meaningful therapy focus”, and (3) “collaboration” with multidisciplinary team members and significant others when managing this client group. Conclusion: SLPs play a crucial role in client-centred inclusive rehabilitation for community-dwelling adults with cognitive-communication disorders following TBI. The complexity of working with this population requires current and future models of care to incorporate an interdisciplinary approach that is flexible in its delivery and meaningful in focus.

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International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

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This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advanced online version.

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Subject

Clinical sciences

Speech pathology

Allied health and rehabilitation science

Linguistics

Science & Technology

Social Sciences

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology

Linguistics

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Kelly, C; Cornwell, P; Copley, A; Hewetson, R, Speech pathologists' perspectives when managing adults following traumatic brain injury in community-based rehabilitation settings: A qualitative investigation, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2022

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