Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in Hospitals of Nepal: Medical Practitioners' Perspective

Biraj Bhattarai; Abhishek B.P

Abstract

AbstractA Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is an allied health professional involved in preventing, assessing, and managing communication disorders and swallowing issues. The study's main aim was to evaluate the medical professionals' perspectives regarding the role and responsibilities of SLPs in hospitals in Nepal. The questionnaire developed in Google Forms was distributed among medical practitioners. A total of 167 medical professionals responded to the survey. Only 65.3% (109) were aware of Speech Pathology. More than 50% of them reported the importance of SLPs in the care of patients in hospitals. However, it was evident from the results that many medical professionals were unaware of the scope of SLPs. The results highlight the need to develop awareness among other health professionals regarding the role and scope of SLPs in hospitals for patient care in Nepal. Keywords: Health care, service delivery, inter-professional practiceCitation: Biraj Bhattarai, Abhishek B.P. Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in Hospitals of Nepal: Medical Practitioners' Perspective. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Medical Science and Technology. 2022; 11(3): 21–26p.