Outpatient speech and language therapy via videoconferencing in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of therapists / Videotherapie in der ambulanten Logopädie/Sprachtherapie in Deutschland während der COVID-19 Pandemie: Erfahrungen von Therapeut/innen

Abstract

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, videoconferencing as a synchronous form of telepractice service delivery models received a boost. In Germany, online-only sessions are not a standardised means of healthcare provision, while telepractice is already well established internationally. This study examines videoconferencing in outpatient speech and language therapy during the first period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The experiences of therapists are reported in this study. For this quantitative study, data were collected by an online survey. Speech and language therapists in Germany were surveyed (n = 816). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results demonstrated that 87% of participants used videoconferencing in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Videoconferencing was conducted with patients of different ages and disorder indications. In their use of videoconferencing, 78% of therapists described benefits. The mentioned benefits and limitations are similar to international findings, showing the potential for synchronous speech and language therapy via videoconferencing. German therapists display a general acceptance of the sustainable use of videoconferencing, and the majority of therapists can imagine transferring videoconferencing to standard healthcare.