ASSESSMENT PROTOCOL TO IDENTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

描述（由申请人提供）：痴呆症影响表达和接受语言能力。因此，沟通是许多长期护理机构的主要问题，导致各种自我护理活动的依赖性增加。最近的研究表明，语境因素在沟通表现和提供有效的照顾与沟通障碍的个人发挥着重要作用。尽管SLP的实践范围通过减少沟通的环境障碍来提高生活质量，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存在专门确定环境障碍和促进者在住宅护理环境中的沟通。该SBIR项目的目标是：1）开发一个新的和创新的沟通工具包-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因素，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）证明工具包的有效性; 3）制定市场营销计划，确保第三阶段的成功。该工具包将包括：1）一个带视频的培训模块，2）一份评估协议，3）测量工具，以及4）用户手册。第一阶段的前3个月将用于开发卧室/浴室空间的通信工具包，并由顾问小组进行审查。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样本将完成培训模块，并通过管理前和后测试评估知识增益。第二，将训练较小的SLP子集使用评估方案，并改变其行为（即，将评估他们在护理计划中建议的环境干预措施的数量。第二阶段将扩大交流工具包的范围，以包括长期护理设施的其他领域。计划在第二阶段开展三项基本活动。总之，沟通工具包的四个组成部分，环境干预痴呆症将显着扩大能力的SLP，以减少环境障碍，与照顾对象的沟通。

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.