This research arose from concerns over the marginal position of speech and language therapists within the UK health care system, at a time when a case based on equal pay legislation comparing their work with that of clinical psychologists nears completion. While quantitative data confirm a difficulty for the NHS in recruiting and retaining speech and language therapists, no qualitative research has explored their work experiences within a sociological framework. The present study aims to address this gap. The empirical findings are based on qualitative interviews with forty speech and language therapists which employed feminist principles in research methodology including open-endedness, disclosure of values and reciprocity. Themes emerging included the 'invisibility' of the profession in accessing careers advice and gender-stereotyping of subject choices and careers advice at school. In contrast to the humanistic elements which led people into speech and language therapy, the professional education emphasised the scientific aspects of human communication, reflecting a medicalised view of health. Lesser attention was paid to humanistic subjects such as counselling and to the therapeutic applications of formal teaching. Therapists' clinical experiences focused on the relationship between work in the public and private spheres, organisational concerns and the nature of clinical practice. For instance, treatment for people with communication impairments was regarded as a low priority owing to the tendency of formalised health care to prioritise bodily health over mental and communicative well-being. The research considers whether the 'scientisation' of the profession is an effective route to counteract its marginalisation, since in pursuing this route it is required to distance itself from the female-gendered elements of its practice. This dilemma is examined against wider social concerns in which the work of women in the 'reproduction' of people is devalued on a global scale while the 'mainstream' activity of scientific work continues to be highly-prized.

Thesis (MAppSc)--University of South Australia, 1998

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-189). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D., Education)--University of Idaho, April 2007. / Major professor: Carolyn Keeler. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-91). Also available online (PDF file) by subscription or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio State University, 1997. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-125). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center.

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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Physiotherapy. Johannesburg, 2015 / Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) require continuous monitoring and care from all staff working in ICU; this includes doctors, nursing staff, physiotherapists, dieticians and various other medical staff. Conventionally ICU was predominantly staffed by physicians and nursing personnel, with other members of health care having a minor part to play in the patient’s care whilst in ICU. Depending on the country, type of unit, amount of staff and level of training, the physiotherapist may screen the patients to assess if they require physiotherapy and if so, what intervention will be required; on the other hand, in some units the physiotherapist may rely on referral from the doctors and administer the treatment requested by the doctor for the particular patient. In 2000, Norrenberg and Vincent conducted a study to establish the profile of physiotherapists working in ICU in Europe. Van Aswegen and Potterton (2005) adjusted the questionnaire compiled by Norrenberg and Vincent (2000) to be more suitable for the South African setting. A pilot study using this questionnaire was done to determine the scope of practice of physiotherapists in ICU in South Africa. The content of the modified questionnaire used by Van Aswegen and Potterton (2005) was not validated prior to its implementation and a sample of convenience was used. Results reported from that survey were therefore only preliminary and no additional surveys had been performed to date. Objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the current scope of practice of physiotherapists in ICU in South Africa. To determine if physiotherapists’ scope of practice in ICU in South Africa has changed since the report published by Van Aswegen and Potterton (2005). To compare South African physiotherapists’ scope of practice in ICU with that reported on an international level. Methodology: A pre-existing questionnaire used by Van Aswegen and Potterton (2005) was content validated for this study. After consensus was reached on the final version of this questionnaire, it was uploaded onto SurveyMonkey. Physiotherapists that worked in ICU in the government sector, hospitals belonging to the Life, MediClinic and NetCare groups or that were members of the Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Group of the South African Society of Physiotherapy were invited to participate in this study. Results: A total of 319 questionnaires were sent out and 108 responses were received. The combined response rate for this survey was 33.9%. An assessment technique that was performed ‘very often’ by respondents was an ICU chart assessment (n=90, 83.3%), auscultation (n=94, 81, 8%) and strength of cough effort (n=81, 75%). Assessment techniques that were ‘almost never’ or ‘never’ used included assessment of lung compliance (n=75; 69.4%), calculation for the presence of hypoxemia (n=74; 68.5%) and patient readiness for weaning (n=63; 58.3%). Treatment techniques performed by respondents ‘very often’ included manual chest clearance techniques (n=101, 93.5%), mobilising a patient in bed (n=91, 84.3%), positioning a patient in bed (n=91, 84.3%), airway suctioning (n=89, 82.4%), mobilising a patient out of bed (n=84, 77.8%), deep breathing exercises (n=83, 76.9%) and peripheral muscle strengthening exercises (n=79, 73.1%). Treatment techniques that were ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ used included the flutter device (n=77, 71.3%), implementation and supervision of non-invasive ventilatory support (n=77, 71.3%) and adjustment of mechanical ventilation settings for respiratory muscle training (n=76, 70.4%). Physiotherapists working in the private sector made up 60.2% (n=65) of the respondents. An afterhours physiotherapy service was provided to ICU patients by 78 (72.2%) of the respondents during the week. One hundred and five (97.2%) of the respondents provided a physiotherapy service for ICU patients over the weekend. When comparing the results of the current study to the studies by Norrenberg and Vincent (2000) and Van Aswegen and Potterton (2005), there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the usage of IPPB/NIPPV, weaning patients from MV, adjustment of MV settings and IS between the studies. Results from the current study showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the involvement of respondents in suctioning, extubation and adjustment of MV settings compared to that reported by Norrenberg and Vincent (2000). Conclusion: Physiotherapists in this study performed a multisystem assessment of their patient’s which is important since physiotherapists are first line practitioners in South Africa. Physiotherapists play an important role in treating and preventing respiratory and musculoskeletal complications that occur in ICU. The results from this study showed that physiotherapists in South Africa are treating their patient’s according to evidenced based practice but due to the high nonresponse bias these results should be interpreted with caution. The results from this study can be used to develop preliminary clinical practice guidelines for physiotherapists working in ICU in South Africa.