Randomized controlled trial of a multisite speech pathology telepractice service providing swallowing and communication intervention to patients with head and neck cancer: Evaluation of service outcomes.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to present our evaluation of a new speech pathology telepractice service supporting the swallowing and communication management of patients with head and neck cancer. A multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted within a large public cancer service. Referrals from speech pathologists at 3 regional sites (spoke sites) were managed by a specialist clinician from a cancer center (hub site) either via standard care (phone/email support/appointments at the hub site) or a newly established telepractice service (online consultation between the hub site and spoke site). Eighty-two referrals (39 for standard care and 43 for telepractice care) were managed. Service efficiency favoring the telepractice model was reported with a significant reduction in the number (p = .004) and duration (p = .024) of contact events required to manage the referrals. Higher consumer and clinician satisfaction was also reported for the telepractice service. A speech pathology telepractice service benefits both the patient and health provider through higher service efficiency and treatment satisfaction. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 932-939, 2017.