Considerations of equity and ethics in telerehabilitation for speech and language pathology: A rapid review
Catherine Sweet, Jennifer Sigouin, Mirella Veras, Andrea A N MacLeod, Dahlia KairyBackground/Objectives
Speech and language pathologists (SLPs) may use telerehabilitation (TR) to assess, diagnose, and treat disorders of speech, language, and swallowing. Many clinicians pivoted from in-person practice to TR during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rapid review aims to explore equity considerations regarding the use of TR for SLP and how clinicians’ attitudes towards TR changed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Of special interest is how access to services and technology was influenced by geography and for marginalized patients.
Methods
A rapid review of reviews protocol was developed, and articles were analyzed in two timespans to capture data before and during the pandemic (January 2010 to July 2020 and August 2020 to December 2023). Literature was included which included SLP clinical practice, involving TR, written in English or French. Titles and abstracts were screened, and data was extracted following full-text review. Validation and conflicts were resolved continuously with team members.
Results
The reviewed literature (n=54) showed that SLP services delivered via TR can be used to reduce barriers for marginalized populations who live in remote and rural areas, without SLP services or services in one’s first language, or for those with mobility challenges which restrict travel to face-to-face appointments.
Conclusions
This review highlights that TR can reduce barriers for access to SLP services for remote and rural locations, areas without local specialty SLP coverage, service in one’s first language, or those with mobility challenges.