The barriers perceived to prevent the successful implementation of evidence‐based practice by speech and language therapists

Abstract

This small study suggests that therapists agreed that evidence-based practice is essential to the practice of speech and language therapy. There are, however, barriers in place that are perceived to prevent its successful implementation. It is hoped that because these barriers have been identified, individual clinicians and organizations can be proactive in aiming to provide an evidence-based service to their clients.

Speech pathologists’ experiences with stroke clinical practice guidelines and the barriers and facilitators influencing their use: a national descriptive study

“…For patients to benefit from this research, speech pathologists need to regularly search, appraise, and integrate this new knowledge into their clinical practice. However, this can be difficult to do due to a lack of expertise in analysing and appraising research evidence combined with the demands of large and varied caseloads [8,9]. …”

Utilization, cost, payment, and patient satisfaction of rehabilitative services in Shandong, China

“…Occupational therapy is defined as skilled treatment that helps people return to ordinary tasks around home and at work by maximizing physical potential through lifestyle adaptations and possible use of assistive devices [9]. Speech therapy is the science that deals with the use of procedures, training, and remedies for the cure, alleviation, or prevention of speech disorders [10].…”

Synthesis of single-case design research in communication sciences and disorders: Challenges, strategies, and future directions

“…Originating in the medical field of Great Britain in the early 1990s (Parker & Hagan-Burke, 2007a), this evidence-based practice (EBP) movement was later accompanied by such American legislations as No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2002) and the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA, 2002;Parker et al, 2007). Still, years after the onset of the EBP movement, practicing professionals in fields such as communication sciences and disorders are encountering numerous barriers in their efforts to determine and implement EBP in clinical settings (O'Connor & Pettigrew, 2009). In order to identify evidence-based practices for use in applied settings, the EBP movement calls for evaluation and synthesis of findings across primary research efforts (Wolery, Busick, Reichow, & Barton, 2010).…”

“…With both of these synthesis options, an initial process of quality control allows SCD researchers to retain the dependability and power of their conclusions and produce syntheses of only the most clinically useful findings. This important step responds to a key barrier noted by practitioners in communication sciences and disorders, 62.5% of whom cited inadequate research methodology as a significant barrier to their use of EBP (O'Connor & Pettigrew, 2009). The idiosyncratic approaches proposed above are inadequate in the long run, however, and it is important that we continue to develop our thinking and methods surrounding incorporation of SCD findings into EBP decision making.…”

“…For example, future SCD studies should address the issue of inconsistent and inadequate numbers of baseline data points (Kratochwill et al, 2010), provide more complete participant information (e.g., assessment scores, language level, inclusion status, and history of services), and outline clear plans for measurement of intervention fidelity and social validity of goals, procedures, and outcomes, as well as maintenance and generalization of effects. Recent reviews of the SCD intervention literature have found these areas to be sorely lacking (Campbell, 2003;Flippin, Reszka, & Watson, 2010;Odom et al, 2003), and practitioners in communication sciences and disorders have reported study quality and data presentation as significant barriers to their use of EBP (O'Connor & Pettigrew, 2009). With a renewed focus on producing quality SCD results, we will not only reduce the practical challenges facing practitioners and researchers seeking to synthesize SCD findings, but will also further the literature on intervention for low-incidence and heterogeneous populations that constitute a large portion of those with communication disorders.…”