SLPSurveyInternational journal of language & communication disorders2025

Use of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour Model and Theoretical Domains Framework to Understand Barriers and Enablers of Research Capacity and Culture for Speech and Language Therapy Staff.

Katie Dooley Cawley, Helen Stringer

PMID 40927963

WHAT IT FOUND

Speech and language therapy staff were motivated to do research and confident in basic evidence-based tasks like literature searches.

They struggled with advanced skills like ethics applications and data analysis software. Key barriers were lack of time, supervision and unclear funding or career pathways.

Key findings

01Staff reported strong confidence in basic evidence-based practice skills, such as searching and critically appraising literature.

02Advanced research activities, including submitting ethics applications and using data analysis software, were rated as strong barriers.

03Lack of time, inadequate supervision and poor awareness of funding or career opportunities were major environmental barriers.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs

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What it does not show

The study was conducted in a single NHS Trust with an established relationship with a university, so results may not apply to services without this infrastructure. As a cross-sectional survey, it captures views at one point in time and cannot show how barriers change with interventions. Self-reported confidence in skills may not match actual competence. Response bias is possible, with those more interested in research being more likely to complete the survey.

Declared interests

No specific conflicts of interest or funding sources were declared in the provided text.

The easy way to misread this

Do not assume that staff lack motivation or basic research skills. The main barriers are advanced technical skills and organisational support, such as time and supervision. A lack of research activity may reflect poor communication of opportunities rather than staff disinterest.

Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →