Exploring the experiences of speech-language pathologists working with laryngectomy and tracheostomy patients in an acute care setting: A qualitative study.
Tracks
6
Acute care – adult
Advocacy
Complex communication needs (CCN)
Head and neck
Laryngectomy
Professional practice
Tracheostomy
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 12:10 PM - 12:20 PM |
Overview
Victoria Rossiter
Details
⏫ Research insights
⏲️ 12.10pm - 12.30pm
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
⏲️ 12.10pm - 12.30pm
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
Presenter
Miss Victoria Rossiter
KEO Care
Exploring the experiences of speech-language pathologists working with laryngectomy and tracheostomy patients in an acute care setting: A qualitative study.
12:10 PM - 12:30 PMPresentation summary
Laryngectomy and tracheostomy incidence in acute care settings in Australia is growing. Recent emerging evidence in altered airways care has highlighted the importance of the speech-language pathologist (SLP) role in managing altered airways patients within the acute multidisciplinary team. This qualitative study aimed to explore SLP experiences working with laryngectomy and tracheostomy patients in an acute care setting in Australia. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 SLPs who were currently working with, or had previously worked with, laryngectomy and/or tracheostomy patients in an acute care hospital setting. Interviews were analysed using Thematic Analysis. Four main themes were developed from the data describing; SLP scope and role in altered airways care, SLP practice experiences, factors influencing SLP management of altered airways patients, and SLP emotional experiences. Key themes relating to the experience of SLPs across the continuum of expertise suggests that there are gaps in the multi-disciplinary knowledge and awareness of the SLP role and scope in altered airways care, the efficacy of clinician competency training, and SLP self-care strategies and supports. It is important to further investigate SLP experiences working in altered airways care, further focusing on clinician self-care strategies and supports.
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Cardinal, L. A., Freeman-Sanderson, A., & Togher, L. (2020). The speech pathology workforce in intensive care units: Results from a national survey. Australian Critical Care, 33(3), 250–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2020.02.003
Casamento, A., Bailey, M., Robbins, R., Pilcher, D., Warrillow, S., Ghosh, A., & Bellomo, R. (2018). Patient characteristics, incidence, technique, outcomes and early prediction of tracheostomy in the state of Victoria, Australia. Journal of Critical Care, 44, 278–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.11.034
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Mitchell, D., O’Brien, L., Bardoel, A., & Haines, T. (2017). Challenges, uncertainties and perceived benefits of providing weekend allied health services-a managers’ perspective. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), 118–118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2035-4
Ninan, A., Grubb, L. M., Brenner, M. J., & Pandian, V. (2023). Effectiveness of interprofessional tracheostomy teams: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(19–20), 6967–6986. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16815
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Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). (2023a). Tracheostomy Practice Guideline. Melbourne, Australia.
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). (2023b). Laryngectomy Practice Guideline. Melbourne, Australia.
Starmer, H.M., Hamilton, J. (2022). Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Rehabilitation for Patients with Head and Neck Cancers. In: Chandra, R.A., Li, R.J. (eds) Multidisciplinary Management of Head and Neck Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05973-5_14
Ward, E., Agius, E., Solley, M., Cornwell, P., & Jones, C. (2008). Preparation, Clinical Support, and Confidence of Speech-Language Pathologists Managing Clients With a Tracheostomy in Australia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 17(3), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2008/024)
Whitmore, K. A., Townsend, S. C., & Laupland, K. B. (2020). Management of tracheostomies in the intensive care unit: a scoping review. BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000651
Zaga, C. J., Berney, S., Hepworth, G., Cameron, T. S., Baker, S., Giddings, C., Howard, M. E., Bellomo, R., & Vogel, A. P. (2023). Tracheostomy clinical practices and patient outcomes in three tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Australia. Australian Critical Care, 36(3), 327–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2022.03.002
Beck, A. R., & Verticchio, H. (2014). Facilitating Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students’ Ability To Manage Stress: A Pilot Study. Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders, 41(Apr), 24–38.
Beck, A. R., Verticchio, H., Seeman, S., Milliken, E., & Schaab, H. (2017). A Mindfulness Practice for Communication Sciences and Disorders Undergraduate and Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Students: Effects on Stress, Self-Compassion, and Perfectionism. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26(3), 893–907. https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJSLP-16-0172
Bickford, J. M., Coveney, J., Baker, J., & Hersh, D. (2018). Self‐expression and identity after total laryngectomy: Implications for support. Psycho-Oncology (Chichester, England), 27(11), 2638–2644. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4818
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2022). Thematic analysis; a practical guide. SAGE Publications Ltd.
Brenner, M. J., Pandian, V., Milliren, C. E., Graham, D. A., Zaga, C., Morris, L. L., Bedwell, J. R., Das, P., Zhu, H., Lee Y. Allen, J., Peltz, A., Chin, K., Schiff, B. A., Randall, D. M., Swords, C., French, D., Ward, E., Sweeney, J. M., Warrillow, S. J., … Roberson, D. W. (2020). Global Tracheostomy Collaborative: data-driven improvements in patient safety through multidisciplinary teamwork, standardisation, education, and patient partnership. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 125(1), e104–e118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.04.054
Cardinal, L. A., Freeman-Sanderson, A., & Togher, L. (2020). The speech pathology workforce in intensive care units: Results from a national survey. Australian Critical Care, 33(3), 250–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2020.02.003
Casamento, A., Bailey, M., Robbins, R., Pilcher, D., Warrillow, S., Ghosh, A., & Bellomo, R. (2018). Patient characteristics, incidence, technique, outcomes and early prediction of tracheostomy in the state of Victoria, Australia. Journal of Critical Care, 44, 278–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.11.034
Chapman, Laura R. and Cole, Karalee. (2022). Self-Care with Self-Compassion (SC2): A Program to Foster Well-Being in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology Students. Teaching and Learning in Communication Sciences & Disorders, 6(3). DOI: 10.30707/TLCSD6.3.1664996985.144225
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Educational research : planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th edition). Pearson Education.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2018). Qualitative inquiry & research design : choosing among five approaches (Fourth edition.). SAGE.
Davis, S., Weyh, A. M., Salman, S. O., Madbak, F., & Fraker, J. T. (2021). Speech Pathology Services Are Integral, but Underutilized in Tracheostomy Rehabilitation. Craniomaxillofacial Trauma & Reconstruction, 14(2), 110–118. https://doi.org/10.1177/1943387520948381
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2017). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (Fifth edition.). Sage.
Dreyfus, S. E. (2004). The Five-Stage Model of Adult Skill Acquisition. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, 24(3), 177–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/0270467604264992
El-Osta, A., Webber, D., Gnani, S., Banarsee, R., Mummery, D., Majeed, A., & Smith, P. (2019). The Self-Care Matrix: A unifying framework for self-care. Self-Care Journal, 10(3), 38-56. https://selfcarejournal.com/article/the-self-care-matrix-a-unifying-framework-for-self-care/
Hancock, K. L., Ward, E. C., & Hill, A. E. (2020a). Speech and language therapists’ reflections on developing and maintaining confidence in tracheoesophageal speech rehabilitation. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 55(1), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12505
Hancock, K. L., Ward, E. C., & Hill, A. E. (2020b). Factors contributing to clinician training and development in the clinical area of laryngectomy and tracheoesophageal voice. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 55(5), 690–701. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12553
Johnson, J. L., Adkins, D., & Chauvin, S. (2020). A Review of the Quality Indicators of Rigor in Qualitative Research. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 84(1), 7120. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe7120
Longobardi, Y., Savoia, V., Parrilla, C., Marchese, M. R., Morra, L., Mari, G., Degni, E., & D’Alatri, L. (2023). Pre-operative speech-language pathology counselling in patients undergoing total laryngectomy: A pilot randomized clinical trial. Current Psychology, 42(7), 5717–5727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01932-z
Mitchell, D., O’Brien, L., Bardoel, A., & Haines, T. (2017). Challenges, uncertainties and perceived benefits of providing weekend allied health services-a managers’ perspective. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), 118–118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2035-4
Ninan, A., Grubb, L. M., Brenner, M. J., & Pandian, V. (2023). Effectiveness of interprofessional tracheostomy teams: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(19–20), 6967–6986. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16815
Posluns, K., & Gall, T. L. (2020). Dear Mental Health Practitioners, Take Care of Yourselves: a Literature Review on Self-Care. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 42(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-019-09382-w
SA Health. (2016). Employee Assistance Program Policy Directive. https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/resources/policies/employee+assistance+program+policy+directive
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). (2020). Professional Standards for Speech Pathologists in Australia. Melbourne, Australia.
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). (2023a). Tracheostomy Practice Guideline. Melbourne, Australia.
Speech Pathology Australia (SPA). (2023b). Laryngectomy Practice Guideline. Melbourne, Australia.
Starmer, H.M., Hamilton, J. (2022). Speech, Voice, and Swallowing Rehabilitation for Patients with Head and Neck Cancers. In: Chandra, R.A., Li, R.J. (eds) Multidisciplinary Management of Head and Neck Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05973-5_14
Ward, E., Agius, E., Solley, M., Cornwell, P., & Jones, C. (2008). Preparation, Clinical Support, and Confidence of Speech-Language Pathologists Managing Clients With a Tracheostomy in Australia. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 17(3), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1044/1058-0360(2008/024)
Whitmore, K. A., Townsend, S. C., & Laupland, K. B. (2020). Management of tracheostomies in the intensive care unit: a scoping review. BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000651
Zaga, C. J., Berney, S., Hepworth, G., Cameron, T. S., Baker, S., Giddings, C., Howard, M. E., Bellomo, R., & Vogel, A. P. (2023). Tracheostomy clinical practices and patient outcomes in three tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Australia. Australian Critical Care, 36(3), 327–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2022.03.002
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