Setting a prioritized agenda to drive speech–language therapy research in health

Abstract

Background: Prioritized research agendas are viewed internationally as an important method for ensuring that health research meets actual areas of clinical need. There is growing evidence for speech-language therapy-prioritized research agendas, particularly in disorder-specific areas. However, there are few general research priority agendas to guide speech-language therapy research.Aims: To collaboratively develop a prioritized research agenda for an Australian public health context with clinical speech-language therapists (SLTs), academic SLTs and consumers of speech-language therapy services. Methods & Procedures: An initial stimulus list of potential research areas for prioritization was collected from SLTs via an online survey. Two categories (service delivery and expanded scope of practice) were selected from this list for prioritization due to their relevance across multiple health services. The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to develop a prioritized research agenda for each of the two categories. One NGT session was conducted with each of the three participant groups (clinical SLTs, academic SLTs, consumers) for each category (total NGT sessions = six). The prioritization data for each group within each category were summed to give a single, ranked prioritized research agenda for each category.Outcomes & Results: Two prioritized research agendas were developed. Within each agenda, SLTs and consumers prioritized a need for more research in areas related to specific practice areas (e.g., Alternative and Augmentative Communication, Communication Partner Training), as well as broader professional issues (e.g., telehealth, working with culturally and linguistically diverse families). Conclusions & Implications:The current findings support the need for funding proposals and targeted projects that address these identified areas of need.

Translating Ultrasound into Clinical Practice for the Assessment of Swallowing and Laryngeal Function: A Speech and Language Pathology-Led Consensus Study

“…It has been extensively reported in the healthcare literature as a method of synthesising expert opinion, particularly in the absence of published data relating to a subject [ 41 , 50 ]. NGT has successfully been used to enable clinicians, researchers and patients to work collaboratively to develop a prioritised agenda to drive profession-specific research in health [ 51 ]. NGT methods were specifically selected to provide equity in participants’ contributions, enabling people to contribute in a structured and systematic way [ 49 ].…”

Research priorities to improve the health of children and adults with dysphagia: a National Institute of Health Research and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists research priority setting partnership

“…In the UK, the James Lind Alliance (JLA) has been instrumental in developing transparent methodology for research priority setting partnerships (PSPs) with patient, carer and clinician involvement, the results of which have successfully influenced funders. 36 A similar approach involving multiple stakeholders has been taken recently to determine priorities for broad areas of speech and language therapy research within public health services in Australia 37 and in specific clinical areas of practice within speech and language therapy, for example, aphasia following stroke 38 and developmental language disorder. 39 Drawing from JLA methodology and expertise from the NIHR, our aim was to carry out a UK-wide research priority setting partnership to identify crucial unanswered questions in dysphagia and make the case for future research that would impact patients/carers and health professionals working in this field.…”