title: 'Thinking for two': a case study of speech and language therapists working through assistants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many speech and language therapists (SLTs) in the UK work with speech and language therapy assistants, and the numbers of SLT assistants is expected to grow. There has been very little empirical investigation of how SLTs feel about this situation or the effect on working practices of working indirectly.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate SLTs' opinions on working with SLT assistants in a small-scale research case study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was a case study of five SLTs delivering intervention within a research intervention project. Prepared questionnaire and formal interview techniques were used to elicit opinions on working through assistants, and a content analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although respondents could see value in working through assistants, they stressed the time required to do so and the difficulties of adapting and updating therapy plans when working indirectly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests a variety of factors that have to be carefully managed if SLTs are to work competently through assistants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. e.mccartney@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elspeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCartney
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bannatyne
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jessiman
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Cherry
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelsey
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McArthur
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Hare
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D032022:Delegation, Professional; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires