Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Among Health Care Providers Working at Yekatit 12 Hospital Towards Speech Therapy Services Given at the Unit
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Date
2024-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Collaboration and referrals between various medical specialties are crucial for comprehensively addressing patient needs. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluate and provide treatment for difficulties related to speech, language, and feeding. The limited awareness of the scope of speech-language therapy often leads to delayed management for these cases.
Objective: To evaluate the present state of knowledge, attitude & practice among healthcare providers at Yekatit 12 Hospital regarding speech therapy services and to identify areas for improvement to enhance accessibility of speech therapy care at the unit from May 1-15, 2024.
Methodology: Hospital based cross sectional mixed study was conducted among 264 healthcare providers of Yekatit 12 Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Total period for Study was from May 1, 2024 to May 15, 2024. Simple random sampling was used to select participants for study, who are working in the departments of the hospital. Data were collected through a face to face interviewer using semi-structured adopted questionnaire, by printed paper and was analyzed by SPSS software version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to measure strength of association with appropriate AOR and interpreted at 95% CI. Bi-variable analysis was done and then variables with P<0.2 were chosen for multivariable and then multivariable logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with practice of referral. For qualitative data, it was summarized from probing questions stepwise.
Results:- A total of 264 healthcare providers taking part with 98.1% response rate. Having knowledge of speech therapy service availability with AOR= 6.061 (95% CI = 3.091-11.886), the case being cleft lip and palate AOR= 2.98(95% CI =(1.39-6.4), staying updated on SLP services AOR=5.242 (95%CI= 2.652-10.361) and favorable attitude, AOR = 2.13 (95%CI = (1.87-3.79) were significantly associated with provider’s better practice status of referral to SLPs, while being not trained on SLP services AOR = 0.364 (95% CI= 0.13-0.94), long waiting lists of patients AOR= 0.47 ( 95%CI = 0.25-0.60) & having less frequent collaboration with SLPs AOR = 0.167 (95% CI = 0.061-0.460), were significantly associated with health care providers low practice of referral status to SLPs.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Overall knowledge & attitude scores were 59.5% & 78.2% respectively with only 36% practiced referral. Health care providers should practice collaboration with SLP in patient care & Yekatit 12 hospital should monitor all departments for routine referral process to speech therapy services.
Keywords: knowledge, attitude, practice, healthcare providers, speech-language pathologists, speech therapy services, Yekatit 12 Hospital
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Keywords
knowledge, attitude, practice, healthcare providers, speech-language pathologists, speech therapy services, Yekatit 12 Hospital