Parental adherence to Speech Language Therapy treatments in children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Parental adherence to Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) treatments in young children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN): levels, predictors and relations with parent satisfaction and child outcomes.
IRAS ID
129974
Contact name
John Weinman
Contact email
Research summary
Between 5-8% of children under five have Speech Language Communication Needs (SLCN). Persistent communication difficulties can affect social, emotional and educational development, with long-term effects including an increased risk of unemployment. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is central to the diagnosis and provision of therapy for such children and interventions in pre-school children typically require a high degree of parental involvement however little is known about this or the factors which influence the level of parental adherence. This study will identify levels of parental adherence to SLT interventions with children under 5 years, test predictors of adherence and explore the relationship between adherence and child outcome following intervention in a sample of 300 parents. Predictor factors related to non-adherence include how parents perceive the nature of their child’s condition (illness perceptions), belief in their ability to carry out recommendations and in their parenting skills (self-efficacy). Other factors relate to the therapeutic relationship (therapeutic alliance) and practical barriers to attending clinic. Parents will complete a number of measures at two time points that assess these potential predictors as well as a measure of adherence. Information on their child’s SLCN and their treatment will be provided, with consent, by the local SLT department. This research will provide the rationale for future intervention studies to improve parental adherence. The potential benefits are improved parental participation in SLT, better outcomes and efficient and productive SLT services.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/SC/0341
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion