title: Speech-language pathologists' informal learning in healthcare settings: behaviours and motivations.
abstract: The current research sought to identify the types of informal learning behaviours speech-language pathologists (SLPs) working in healthcare settings engage in as well as SLPs' motivations for engaging in informal learning. Twenty-four American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-certified SLPs participated in this qualitative study. Data collection consisted of computer-mediated interviews, online journaling, and a virtual focus group. These textual data were coded and collapsed into themes. All participant SLPs reported that they learned through collaboration (inter- and intra-disciplinary), worked with patients to learn through trial-and-error, and consulted non-peer-reviewed material on the internet as well as peer-reviewed research in order to learn informally in the workplace. Eighteen of the 24 participants reported being motivated to learn at work to meet a patient's need to meet therapy goals. Five of the 24 participants reported meeting their own personal learning needs was a motivating factor and 10 of the 24 participants reported learning informally to meet the needs of the healthcare organization/SLP profession. Results were compared to past research on SLPs' information retrieval behaviours. It was concluded that SLPs acknowledge their personal work-related gaps in knowledge and skills and actively seek to develop their knowledge and skill base through informal means.
authors.affiliation: St. John's University, Staten Island, NY 10301, USA. waldenp@stjohns.edu
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Walden
authors.forename: Valerie C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Bryan
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004517:Education, Professional; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009862:Online Systems; D011361:Professional Competence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace