How I experienced tele-intervention: Qualitative insights from persons who stutter
Background: Tele-intervention gained popularity, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, prompting healthcare providers to adapt to remote service delivery. Research about stuttering treatment via tele-intervention in South Africa is limited. Speech-language therapists (SLTs) requir...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2025-01-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Communication Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/1068 |
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| Summary: | Background: Tele-intervention gained popularity, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, prompting healthcare providers to adapt to remote service delivery. Research about stuttering treatment via tele-intervention in South Africa is limited. Speech-language therapists (SLTs) require further insights to deliver a well-supported approach for treatment of stuttering using tele-intervention, despite limitations such as technological disruptions, including loadshedding, that impact service reliability.
Objectives: The study aims to explore clients’ experiences with tele-intervention for stuttering therapy, and to provide recommendations to improve service delivery.
Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 persons who stutter (PWS) recruited through purposive sampling. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants with experience in both tele-intervention and in-person treatment. Inductive thematic analysis supplemented by descriptive statistics was used to identify patterns and trends.
Results: Four main themes emerged: (1) User experiences and factors shaping perceptions of tele-intervention; (2) technical infrastructure: barriers and facilitators; (3) financial and access considerations and (4) in-person treatment experience compared to tele-intervention user experience. Likert scale ratings indicated no considerable difference in preferences between tele-intervention and in-person treatment.
Conclusion: Participants’ diverse experiences highlighted tele-intervention’s benefits and challenges for stuttering therapy. While limitations exist, findings inform service enhancement in South Africa, emphasising the importance of users’ perspectives in tele-intervention design.
Contribution: Insights from PWS can be used in informing clinical practice, aiding SLTs in meeting the needs of PWS and guiding best practice. Tele-intervention should be integrated into a hybrid intervention model that PWS prefer. |
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| ISSN: | 0379-8046 2225-4765 |