ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL TO IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

描述(申请人提供)：痴呆症影响表达能力和接受性语言能力。因此，沟通是许多长期护理机构的一个主要问题，导致在各种自我护理活动中增加依赖。最近的研究表明，语境因素在沟通能力和为沟通障碍患者提供有效护理方面发挥着重要作用。尽管SLP的实践范围通过减少沟通的环境障碍来促进生活质量的提高，但环境评估和干预并不是常规临床实践的一部分。因此，毫不奇怪，没有物理环境评估工具或资源专门用于确定住宿护理环境中的环境障碍和促进者。这个SBIR项目的目标是：1)开发一种新的创新的沟通工具包--痴呆症的环境干预，使言语语言病理学家(SLP)能够识别环境障碍和促进者，并建议有效的环境干预措施，以改善长期护理环境中痴呆症患者的沟通；2)展示该工具包的有效性；3)制定营销计划，以确保第三阶段的成功。该工具包将包括：1)带有视频的培训模块，2)评估协议，3)测量工具，和4)用户手册。第一阶段的头3个月将用于开发卧室/卫生间通信工具包，并由咨询小组进行审查。剩下的3个月将侧重于以几种方式评估传播工具包。首先，30名SLP的样本将完成培训模块，并将通过管理前后测试来评估知识增长。其次，将对一小部分SLP进行使用评估议定书的培训，并评估他们行为的变化(即他们在护理计划中建议的环境干预次数)。第二阶段将扩大通信工具包的范围，以包括长期护理设施的其他领域。第二阶段计划开展三项基本活动。《沟通工具包--痴呆症环境干预》的四个组成部分将显著扩大SLP的能力，以减少与护理接受者沟通的环境障碍。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dementia affects both expressive and receptive language abilities. As a result, communication is a major problem in many long term care facilities, contributing to increased dependence in a variety of self care activities. Recent studies suggest that contextual factors play an important role in communication performance and in providing effective care for individuals with communication disorders. Although the SLP scope of practice promotes improved quality of life by reducing environmental barriers to communication, environmental assessment and intervention are not part of routine clinical practice. Not surprisingly, therefore, no physical environment assessment tools or resources exist specifically to determine environmental barriers and facilitators to communication in residential care environments. The goals of this SBIR project are: 1) To develop a new and innovative Communication Toolkit-Environmental Interventions for Dementia that will enable speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to identify environmental barriers and facilitators and recommend effective environmental interventions to improve communication of individuals with dementia in long-term care settings; 2) To demonstrate the effectiveness of the toolkit; and 3) To develop a marketing plan to ensure the success of Phase III. The toolkit will include: 1) a training module with video, 2) an assessment protocol, 3) measurement tools, and 4) user manual. The first 3 months of the Phase I will be spent developing the Communication Toolkit for bedroom/ bathroom spaces and having it reviewed by the Advisory panel. The remaining 3 months will focus on evaluating the Communication Toolkit in several ways. First, a sample of 30 SLPs will complete the Training Module, and knowledge gain will be assessed through the administration of pre and post tests. Second, a smaller subset of SLPs will be trained to use the Assessment Protocol, and changes in their behavior (i.e., the number of environmental interventions they recommend in their care plans) will be assessed. Phase II will extend the scope of the Communication Toolkit to include other areas of long-term care facilities. Three basic activities are planned for Phase II. Together, the four components of the Communication Toolkit-Environmental Interventions for Dementia will significantly expand the capacity of SLPs to reduce environmental barriers to communication with care recipients.