TY - JOUR
T1 - The telehealth surge
T2 - Speech-language pathology mode of service delivery and consumer characteristics during COVID-19
AU - Learnihan, Vincent
AU - Hogg, Sue Ellen
AU - Davis, Kimberley
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024/9
Y1 - 2024/9
N2 - Purpose: To examine the characteristics of speech-language pathology (SLP) consumers prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with respect to the mode of service delivery within a local health district in New South Wales, Australia, to inform future health service planning. Method: Observational study examining SLP occasions of service data pre-COVID-19 (2019–2019; n = 6413) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021; n = 6908). Spatial mapping and multilevel models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, telehealth utilisation, and videoconferencing. Result: During COVID-19, SLP occasions of service increased by 7.7% compared to pre-COVID-19. Model 1 found odds of adopting telehealth (telephone or videoconference) during COVID-19 were significantly higher for those aged 0–4 and 5–17 years compared to older age groups. Consumers in inner regional areas were significantly less likely to adopt telehealth than in major city areas, whereas females were significantly more likely to adopt telehealth. Those living in areas experiencing higher relative disadvantage were less likely to use telehealth. Model 2 found odds of adopting videoconferencing only were also significantly higher for the younger age groups (0–4 and 5–17 years) and females. Conclusion: A rapid transition to a virtual model of care was critical to the successful delivery of SLP services during COVID-19. Immediate prioritisation and integration of targeted models of care, where suitability is high and benefits most likely to be experienced, is feasible.
AB - Purpose: To examine the characteristics of speech-language pathology (SLP) consumers prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with respect to the mode of service delivery within a local health district in New South Wales, Australia, to inform future health service planning. Method: Observational study examining SLP occasions of service data pre-COVID-19 (2019–2019; n = 6413) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021; n = 6908). Spatial mapping and multilevel models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics, telehealth utilisation, and videoconferencing. Result: During COVID-19, SLP occasions of service increased by 7.7% compared to pre-COVID-19. Model 1 found odds of adopting telehealth (telephone or videoconference) during COVID-19 were significantly higher for those aged 0–4 and 5–17 years compared to older age groups. Consumers in inner regional areas were significantly less likely to adopt telehealth than in major city areas, whereas females were significantly more likely to adopt telehealth. Those living in areas experiencing higher relative disadvantage were less likely to use telehealth. Model 2 found odds of adopting videoconferencing only were also significantly higher for the younger age groups (0–4 and 5–17 years) and females. Conclusion: A rapid transition to a virtual model of care was critical to the successful delivery of SLP services during COVID-19. Immediate prioritisation and integration of targeted models of care, where suitability is high and benefits most likely to be experienced, is feasible.
KW - health service delivery
KW - health service utilisation
KW - healthcare consumers
KW - speech-language pathology
KW - telehealth
KW - virtual care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202947409&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17549507.2024.2388061
DO - 10.1080/17549507.2024.2388061
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85202947409
SN - 1754-9507
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
JF - International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
ER -