title: Speech pathologists' perspectives on transitioning to telepractice: What factors promote acceptance?
abstract: Little is understood about factors that influence speech-language pathologists' (SLPs') acceptance of telepractice. The aim of this study was to investigate SLPs' perceptions and experiences of transitioning to a school-based telepractice service to identify factors that contributed to positive clinician attitudes. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 SLPs who recently commenced providing school-based telepractice services. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to interpret interviews, with themes compared and contrasted across the group. Results indicated that although SLPs reported initially having mixed feelings towards telepractice, they later evaluated telepractice positively and viewed it as a legitimate service delivery mode. The overarching theme was that positive beliefs about telepractice were associated with perceptions of its consistency with the underlying principles of face-to-face therapy. In evaluating telepractice, SLPs considered: (a) therapeutic relationships with children; (b) collaboration with parents and teachers; (c) adequacy of technology and resources; and (d) access to support for learning telepractice. Therapy assistants and specific clinician attributes emerged as key strategies used to manage threats to acceptability. Preparation of SLPs transitioning to telepractice should address factors that support positive experiences with, and attitudes towards, telepractice to ensure that training achieves the greatest, most sustained change.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia monique.hines@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hines
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.affiliation: Royal Far West, Manly, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramsden
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia New South Wales Agency for Clinical Innovation, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinovich
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia Royal Far West, Manly, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fairweather
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D017216:Telemedicine; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Implementation; rural; schools; speech pathology; telehealth