TY - JOUR
T1 - Speech-Language Pathologist's Pattern of Practice in the Rehabilitation of Head and Neck Cancer patients across Hospitals in India
AU - Varghese, Janet Jaison
AU - Aithal, Venkataraja U.
AU - Sharan, Krishna
AU - Rajashekar, Bellur
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© (2024), (Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention). All Rights Reserved.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Objective: India has a significant burden of Head and Neck cancer (HNC) patients. Patients afflicted with HNC often encounter difficulties in speech, voice, and swallowing, either due to the disease itself or the treatment they receive. The rehabilitation of HNC patients is crucial, and Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) have a significant role in it. The current study aimed to understand the practices followed by SLPs in India while rehabilitating HNC patients. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and validated by five Speech-language pathologists, before circulation as an E-survey. The target participants were SLPs working in hospitals across India. The final online version of the questionnaire remained open for eight weeks. Result: A total of 75 Hospital-based SLPs working in India participated in the survey. The responses depict notable trends and differences in the assessment and management approaches. HNC patients who had undergone surgery were more likely to be referred for rehabilitation than those who received non-surgical treatments. Only 36% of the SLPs reported getting pre-operative referrals for HNC patients. The time point for initial assessment and intervention, as well as the protocols used, varied across different hospitals. About 50% of participants had instrumental swallow evaluation facilities in their hospitals, and the majority of hospitals only used instrumental swallow evaluation for 1-3 assessments per week. Conclusion: Variability exists in several aspects of SLP practice for HNC patients offered across Hospitals in India. All HNC patients do not get access to speech-language pathology services. Developing standardized protocols towards early evaluation, intervention and enhancing compliance could improve SLP-led rehabilitation of HNC patients in India.
AB - Objective: India has a significant burden of Head and Neck cancer (HNC) patients. Patients afflicted with HNC often encounter difficulties in speech, voice, and swallowing, either due to the disease itself or the treatment they receive. The rehabilitation of HNC patients is crucial, and Speech and Language Pathologists (SLPs) have a significant role in it. The current study aimed to understand the practices followed by SLPs in India while rehabilitating HNC patients. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and validated by five Speech-language pathologists, before circulation as an E-survey. The target participants were SLPs working in hospitals across India. The final online version of the questionnaire remained open for eight weeks. Result: A total of 75 Hospital-based SLPs working in India participated in the survey. The responses depict notable trends and differences in the assessment and management approaches. HNC patients who had undergone surgery were more likely to be referred for rehabilitation than those who received non-surgical treatments. Only 36% of the SLPs reported getting pre-operative referrals for HNC patients. The time point for initial assessment and intervention, as well as the protocols used, varied across different hospitals. About 50% of participants had instrumental swallow evaluation facilities in their hospitals, and the majority of hospitals only used instrumental swallow evaluation for 1-3 assessments per week. Conclusion: Variability exists in several aspects of SLP practice for HNC patients offered across Hospitals in India. All HNC patients do not get access to speech-language pathology services. Developing standardized protocols towards early evaluation, intervention and enhancing compliance could improve SLP-led rehabilitation of HNC patients in India.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85186741122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85186741122&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.2.453
DO - 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.2.453
M3 - Article
C2 - 38415530
AN - SCOPUS:85186741122
SN - 1513-7368
VL - 25
SP - 453
EP - 460
JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
JF - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
IS - 2
ER -