Profiles of outpatient speech-language therapy audiology clients at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape

South African Journal of Communication Disorders

 
 
Field Value
 
Title Profiles of outpatient speech-language therapy audiology clients at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape
 
Creator Overett, Wendy Kathard, Harsha
 
Subject — Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology services; healthcare; service delivery; client profiles; attendance
Description This study described trends in the demographic, diagnostic, and attendance variables of first-time clients who attended the Speech-Language Therapy and Audiology outpatient department (OPD) at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape over a five-year period (1999-2003). A retrospective, descriptive survey was conducted and data were collected from hospital records. The data were coded, analysed descriptively and represented in tables, figures and graphs. The diagnostic categories of hearing loss and voice disorder made up the highest percentage of referrals. The largest percentages of clients were referred from the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department at the study hospital, followed by the education sector. Demographic trends indicated that the highest percentage of clients attending the OPD was in the age category of 7-12 years, that similar percentages of male and female clients attended the OPD, and that English was the language that a client was most likely to speak. Geographically, the highest percentage of clients attending the OPD was from the Klipfontein region. Attendance data revealed that approximately 70% of clients attended OPD appointments within a three-month time period and attended no more than two appointments. Percentage of appointments attended decreased with increasing numbers of scheduled appointments. Implications for research and service delivery are discussed.
 
Publisher AOSIS
 
Contributor
Date 2006-12-31
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion — —
Format application/pdf
Identifier 10.4102/sajcd.v53i1.199
 
Source South African Journal of Communication Disorders; Vol 53, No 1 (2006); 49–58 2225-4765 0379-8046
 
Language eng
 
Relation
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:

https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/199/299
 
Coverage — — —
Rights Copyright (c) 2019 Wendy Overett, Harsha Kathard https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
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