Maximizing health literacy and client recall in a developing context: speech-language therapist and client perspectives.

BACKGROUND: In the field of speech-language therapy, limited research has been conducted with regards to health literacy and client recall. However, speech-language therapists frequently provide a considerable amount of information for clients to understand, apply and review in order to manage their (or their child's) health. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate (1) issues around clients' health literacy and recall of information; and (2) how these issues can be overcome in speech-language therapy in a developing context. METHOD & PROCEDURES: An exploratory study was undertaken with specific focus on speech-language therapists and their clients who had previously received treatment for dysphagia, voice disorders (including laryngectomies), and cleft lip and/or palate management. They were recruited at public tertiary hospitals and primary healthcare clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Data were gathered through focus group discussions and qualitatively analysed using a content-driven immersion/crystallization style. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Five themes and 13 subthemes were identified. Speech-language therapists currently use mostly low-technology strategies to manage issues of health literacy and client recall, and frequently view poor outcomes as being related to clients themselves and a lack of compliance. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS: An understanding of context, intercultural health literacy and client-provider concordance are important factors that should inform the clinical practice of speech-language therapy. There is a need to develop effective strategies for information provision and review post-consultation. Speech-language therapists have an important mediating role in cross-cultural communication.

Maximising health literacy and client recall of clinical information: an exploratory study of clients and speech-language pathologists.

Limited research has been carried out in the field of speech-language pathology with regard to ways of maximising health literacy and client recall. However, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) frequently provide vast amounts of information that clients need to understand, apply and review in order to manage their (or their child's) health. This exploratory study aimed to contribute information about ways in which SLPs can overcome low health literacy and poor client recall so that treatment effectiveness is improved. A case-study design was used with specific focus on four clients receiving treatment for dysphagia, voice disorders (including laryngectomies) and cleft lip and/or palate management in Cape Town. Strategies which may be able to maximise health literacy and client recall of clinical information were trialled and evaluated by clients and their SLPs, using semi-structured interviews. The researchers proposed a combination of high-tech strategies which assisted in all the cases. No single solution or universal tool was found that would be appropriate for all. There is a need to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the combined strategies across a wider population, at different stages of rehabilitation and in diverse contexts. Implications and suggestions for future related research are presented.