Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
‘We are in this together’ voices of speech-language pathologists working in South African healthcare contexts during level 4 and level 5 lockdown of COVID-19
Submitted: 24 August 2020 | Published: 18 February 2021
About the author(s)
Skye N. Adams, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaJaishika Seedat, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kim Coutts, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kelly-Ann Kater, Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on every South African but more specifically healthcare professionals, including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Africa implemented a nationwide lockdown as confirmed cases continued to rise. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on SLPs has a three-fold purpose: to re-evaluate service provision, service delivery platforms and to identify the need for support to SLPs during a time of crisis. It is also crucial in guiding how policies and interventions need to be modified.
Objectives: The study aimed to better understand how the workspace of SLPs in hospitals was impacted by COVID-19, how they experienced this process and the implications for them as healthcare professionals in both the private and public sector throughout South Africa.
Methodology: An exploratory cross-sectional study design was used to meet the aims of the study. Thirty-nine SLPs from different provinces in South Africa, working in government and private hospitals during COVID-19, responded to the online survey. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis.
Results: SLPs’ roles, responsibilities and service delivery were impacted by COVID-19. It was necessary for typical outpatient therapy services to be modified; there were changes to the role of the SLP in the hospital and inpatient services were curtailed.
Conclusion: This study provides insightful information to SLPs employed in hospitals to know that they are experiencing similar challenges. It also confirms the resilience of healthcare professionals, including SLPs, when faced with novel and unprecedented situations.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 5679Total article views: 5691
Crossref Citations
1. ‘Patient death really changes your emotional make-up’: the effects of patient death and dying on speech therapists’ and audiologists’ practice and well-being
Nabeelah Nagdee, Victor Manuel de Andrade
Speech, Language and Hearing vol: 26 issue: 3 first page: 179 year: 2023
doi: 10.1080/2050571X.2022.2033017
2. Impact of the initial COVID-19 response in the UK on speech and language therapy services: a nationwide survey of practice
Katie Chadd, Sophie Chalmers, Kate Harrall, Amelia Heelan, Amit Kulkarni, Sarah Lambert, Kathryn Moyse, Gemma Clunie
Journal of Health Organization and Management vol: 38 issue: 2 first page: 264 year: 2024
doi: 10.1108/JHOM-11-2022-0337
3. Speech-Language Pathology Management for Adults with COVID-19 in the Acute Hospital Setting: What Do We Know?
Luis F. Riquelme, Sara Diab, Angela Horyacheva, Isabel Huribal, Andreea Shellerud, Sophia Werden Abrams, Ashwini M. Namasivayam-MacDonald
OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine vol: 07 issue: 03 first page: 1 year: 2022
doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203036
4. Sobreviventes do Covid e do AVC, têm em comum uma jornada de reabilitação: reflexões sobre a afasia e tecnologia
Claudia Simões Pinto da Cunha Lima, Ingrid Winkler, Valter De Senna
Cuadernos de Educación y Desarrollo vol: 15 issue: 1 first page: 434 year: 2023
doi: 10.55905/cuadv15n1-022
5. “Tremendous burdens often unveil enormous gifts”: The experiences of South African caregivers implementing speech and language teletherapy for children with cerebral palsy during COVID-19
Gabriela Evangelou, Skye Nandi Adams, Rachel Byrne, Heakyung Kim, Raffi Najarian, Justin Ramsey, Sruthi Thomas
Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine vol: 17 issue: 1 first page: 85 year: 2024
doi: 10.3233/PRM-220118
6. The perspectives of speech–language pathologists: Providing teletherapy to patients with speech, language and swallowing difficulties during a COVID-19 context
Zahraa Tar-Mahomed, Kelly-Ann Kater
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 69 issue: 2 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.902
7. Lived experiences of South African rehabilitation practitioners during coronavirus disease 2019
Sadna Balton, Mershen Pillay, Rizqa Armien, Annika L. Vallabhjee, Elani Muller, Mark J. Heywood, Jeannie van der Linde
African Journal of Disability vol: 13 year: 2024
doi: 10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1229
8. A systematic review of evidence relating to the use of telesupervision for speech‐language pathology students on clinical placements
Joanne Walters, Lucy Bryant, Bronwyn Hemsley
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders vol: 60 issue: 1 year: 2025
doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13133
9. Challenges to infection control in early communication intervention: A scoping review
Bilqees Achmat, Berna Gerber
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 69 issue: 2 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.911
10. Simulations as a mode of clinical training in healthcare professions: A scoping review to guide planning in speech-language pathology and audiology during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
Nabeelah Nagdee, Ben Sebothoma, Milka Madahana, Katijah Khoza-Shangase, Nomfundo Moroe
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 69 issue: 2 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.905
11. Unlocking the potential of domestic tourism in uncertain times: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
Siphathisiwe Caroline Mzobe, Logistic Makoni , Siyabulela Nyikana
Studia Periegetica vol: 38 issue: 2 first page: 137 year: 2023
doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0016.0570
12. When uncertainty becomes the norm: The Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s Speech Therapy and Audiology Department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Sadna Balton, Annika L. Vallabhjee, Stephanie C. Pillay
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 69 issue: 2 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.913
13. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of speech therapy services in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mirela Duranović, Leila Begić, Gavrić Babić, Marijana Lauc
Specijalna edukacija i rehabilitacija vol: 22 issue: 1 first page: 31 year: 2023
doi: 10.5937/specedreh22-38863
14. Life during Covid-19: An Explorative Qualitative Study of Occupational Therapists in South Africa
Henna Nathoo, Thavanesi Gurayah, Deshini Naidoo
Occupational Therapy in Mental Health vol: 39 issue: 2 first page: 211 year: 2023
doi: 10.1080/0164212X.2022.2100558
15. Speech–language therapy educator reflections on the planning and implementation of education and training during the COVID-19 pandemic
Urisha Naidoo, Penelope S. Flack, Vrinda Rathiram, Legini Moodley, Saira B. Karrim, Nomfundo Buthelezi, Vuledzani Ndanganeni
South African Journal of Communication Disorders vol: 69 issue: 2 year: 2022
doi: 10.4102/sajcd.v69i2.908