title: Randomized controlled trial of a multisite speech pathology telepractice service providing swallowing and communication intervention to patients with head and neck cancer: Evaluation of service outcomes.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to present our evaluation of a new speech pathology telepractice service supporting the swallowing and communication management of patients with head and neck cancer.
  
  
  
  A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted within a large public cancer service. Referrals from speech pathologists at 3 regional sites (spoke sites) were managed by a specialist clinician from a cancer center (hub site) either via standard care (phone/email support/appointments at the hub site) or a newly established telepractice service (online consultation between the hub site and spoke site).
  
  
  
  Eighty-two referrals (39 for standard care and 43 for telepractice care) were managed. Service efficiency favoring the telepractice model was reported with a significant reduction in the number (p = .004) and duration (p = .024) of contact events required to manage the referrals. Higher consumer and clinician satisfaction was also reported for the telepractice service.
  
  
  
  A speech pathology telepractice service benefits both the patient and health provider through higher service efficiency and treatment satisfaction. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 932-939, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Speech Pathology and Audiology Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Centre for Research Excellence in Telehealth, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Centre for Research Excellence in Telehealth, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Centre for Research Excellence in Telehealth, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Economics, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Sanjeewa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kularatna
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Health Economics, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byrnes
authors.affiliation: Central Integrated Regional Cancer Services, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Lizbeth M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D017216:Telemedicine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: head and neck cancer; speech pathology; telepractice