A comparative study of perspectives on telepractice service delivery among Egyptian and U.S. Speech and Language Pathologists

Abstract

ABSTRACT Scope: Although the discipline of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) was established in Egypt over 50 years ago, telepractice is a new concept in Egypt. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic providers adapted to an online therapy format. Materials & methods: The current study used a retrospective pretest–posttest design to identify differences in barriers facing SLPs practicing in the USA (N = 38) and Egypt (N = 41) using telepractice. The online questionnaire assessed the domains of technical barriers, the applicability of various types of therapy, caseload characteristics’ barriers, caregivers’ challenges, and the therapists’ input. Results: Therapists in both countries had concerns pre-telepractice regarding the availability of materials for online sessions, time spent for online session preparation, guaranteed confidentiality, and protection of client personal details in teletherapy. Most US therapists held a positive attitude towards the adaptability of various types of therapy for online sessions and the applicability of online sessions for new cases, toddlers & infants, preschoolers, adults & group sessions. On the other hand, Egyptian therapists expressed concerns regarding technical barriers such as lower frequency of sessions and internet connectivity problems while also experiencing more issues related to caseload characteristics. Conclusion: This study offers preliminary data on telehealth experiences in USA and Egypt that may direct future research into ways to increase service delivery and access.