背景:言语和语言治疗(SLT)服务是沟通的基础,学术和社会发展。证据表明,对服务的需求正在增加,这可能会对护理质量产生不利影响。关于马耳他语音和语言服务的需求和质量的研究有限。
目的:为了阐明语言病理学家(SLPs)的观点,服务经理和客户的父母关于人力资源开发(HRD)相关因素的影响,人力资源管理(HRM)和环境对马耳他西部儿童SLT服务质量的影响。此外,概述改善所提供服务质量的有益策略或建议。
方法:采用混合方法研究。分析了语音和语言中心(SLC)提供的定量数据,以使用描述性统计数据确定随时间的需求。使用与管理人员定制的问卷进行一对一访谈的定性数据,SLP和父母被转录和分析。然后制定和评估了与服务质量有关的共同和独特主题。
结果:定量结果突出显示,客户未接受所需数量的治疗疗程。总的来说,父母确定了与SLT服务质量有关的九个主题,SLP和经理。对影响服务质量的因素进行了概述,并细分为三个分支:人力资源开发,人力资源管理与环境。如果这些子组中的所有因素得到增强和改进,则有望提高所提供服务的质量。此外,结果表明,从管理者和SLP的角度来看,感知到的和提供的SLT服务之间存在差异;然而,父母没有感受到这一点。对于父母来说,主要关注的是所提供治疗疗程的可用性和频率.
结论:来自SLP的见解,经理和客户的父母强调了SLT儿童服务质量的障碍和推动者。这些发现可用于改善马耳他和其他具有类似背景的国家的服务,主要是通过改变时间管理,减少需求,提高可用性。
结论:关于SLT这一主题的已知知识已被证明可以提高儿童的沟通技巧。日益增长的治疗需求会影响所提供服务的质量,最终影响孩子的进步。关于马耳他儿童的言语和语言服务质量以及影响服务质量的因素的证据基础存在差距。这项研究增加了现有知识这是马耳他的第一项此类研究。它试图从三个不同的角度确定儿童SLT服务的质量:服务经理,SLP和父母。此外,这项研究调查了什么影响SLT服务质量的积极或消极。通过这项研究,阻碍因素分为三个域;HRD因素,人力资源管理因素和环境因素。所有三组参与者都提到了这些域,因为它们对服务产生了负面影响或正面影响。主要的负面方面包括糟糕的时间管理,高要求,可用性和可达性降低,虽然积极的方面包括改善支持,关系和环境。这项工作的实际和临床意义是什么?这项研究表明,减少对SLP的管理和行政要求,提高会话频率将提高服务质量。关于这三个领域,将提高服务质量的人力资源开发因素是:SLP和家长能力,增强SLP的积极特征,所有角色的积极态度和合作;对于人力资源管理资源,对质量重要的因素是战略和风险管理,劳动力和招聘;对于环境因素,自然环境和资源是重要的,因为它们根据其状况影响服务,也就是说,资源的改善导致服务的改善。由于减少了责任,此类变更将减少SLP的积极性和倦怠,在提高可访问性和可用性的同时,最终提高所提供服务的质量。
BACKGROUND: Speech and language therapy (SLT) services are fundamental for communication, academic and social development. Evidence shows that demand for services is increasing, and this can adversely affect the quality of care. There are limited published studies in relation to the demand and quality of speech and language services in Malta.
OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the perspectives of speech-language pathologists (SLPs), service managers and parents of clients about the impact of factors pertaining to human resource development (HRD), human resource management (HRM) and the environment on the quality of the children\'s SLT service in western Malta. Also, to outline the beneficial strategies or recommendations to improve the quality of the service provided.
METHODS: A mixed-method study was used. Quantitative data provided by the Speech and Language Center (SLC) were analysed to determine demand over time using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data from one-to-one interviews using a bespoke questionnaire with managers, SLPs and parents were transcribed and analysed. Common and distinct themes in relation to the quality of services were then formulated and evaluated.
RESULTS: Quantitative results highlighted that clients were not receiving the required number of the therapeutic sessions. In total, nine themes in relation to the quality of the SLT service were identified by parents, SLPs and managers. The factors affecting the service quality were outlined and subdivided under three branches: HRD, HRM and the environment. All factors within these subgroups are expected to enhance the quality of the service provided if they are enhanced and improved upon. Additionally, the results showed that a discrepancy between the perceived and offered SLT services was felt from the managers\' and SLPs\' perspectives; however, this was not felt by parents. For parents, the main concern was the availability and frequency of the therapeutic sessions provided.
CONCLUSIONS: Insights from SLPs, managers and parents of clients highlighted the barriers and enablers of quality of service in SLT services for children. These findings can be used to improve services in Malta and other countries with similar contexts, mainly by altering time management, reducing demands and improving availability.
CONCLUSIONS: What is already known on the subject SLT is proven to enhance a child\'s communication skills. Increasing demands for therapy can affect the quality of the service provided, ultimately affecting the child\'s progress. There is a gap in the evidence base regarding the quality of speech and language services for children in Malta and the factors which affect the quality of the service. What this study adds to the existing knowledge This is the first study of its kind in Malta. It seeks to identify the quality of SLT services for children from three different perspectives: service managers, SLPs and parents. In addition, this study investigated what affects the quality of SLT services positively or negatively. Through this study, the impeding factors were divided into three domains; HRD factors, HRM factors and environmental factors. These domains were mentioned by all three groups of participants because they affected the service negatively or positively. The main negative aspects included bad time management, high demands, and reduced availabilities and accessibilities, whilst positive aspects included improved support, relationships and the environment. What are the practical and clinical implications of this work? This study suggests reducing the managerial and administrational demands on SLPs and improving session frequency would enhance the quality of service. In relation to the three domains, the HRD factors that would enhance the quality of service are: SLPs\' and parental competencies, enhancing SLPs\' positive characteristics, positive attitudes and cooperation from all personas; for HRM resources the factors important for quality are strategic and risk management, workforce and recruitment; and for the environmental factors the physical environment and resources are important as they affect the service depending on their condition, that is, improved resources result in improved service. Such alterations would reduce the SLPs\' demotivation and burnout due to reduced responsibilities, whilst improving accessibility and availability, ultimately enhancing the quality of the service provided.