Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the interventions provided and counseling techniques used by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to address the emotional impact for both pediatric patients receiving tracheostomy tubes and their parents/family caregivers. A secondary purpose was to investigate the family caregivers’ perspectives of the counseling methods provided by SLPs to pediatric patients with tracheostomy tubes and their families. Quantitative research methods were used to investigate SLPs’: preparation to work with pediatric tracheostomy patients; confidence in performing both medical tasks and counseling; frequency of performing medical tasks and counseling; and familiarity with counseling resources specific to pediatric tracheostomy patients. The study also investigated parents’ perceptions of how confidently and frequently their child’s SLP completed medical tasks and provided counseling. Qualitative research methods were used to provide context and further explanations for parental experiences working with SLPs. The results indicated that SLPs have higher confidence in and frequency of providing informational counseling than providing personal adjustment counseling. In addition, parents perceived SLPs to be less confident in and less frequently provide informational and personal adjustment counseling relative to the SLPs’ ratings.

Advisor

Goldberg, Donald

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

Tracheostomy, tracheotomy, informational counseling, personal adjustment counseling, speech-language pathology, confidence, frequency

Publication Date

2021

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2021 Meghan Botsch