Browsing by Author "Panterliyon, N.A."

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Parent perspectives on augmentative and alternative communication in Sri Lanka
(Williams and Wilkins, 2022) Muttiah, N.; Seneviratne, A.; Drager, K.D.R.; Panterliyon, N.A.
Parental support is an important part of introducing an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system to a child. Professionals providing AAC services to children with complex communication needs should practice family-centered service provision. The aim of this study was to explore Sri Lankan parents' perspectives on AAC and their lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 parents of children with complex communication needs. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the findings, with the following themes identified: (a) External Systems, (b) Impact on the Family, (c) Impact on the Child, and (d) Communication (including AAC). Findings from this study provide important information for speech-language therapists providing services to families from low- and middle-income countries. In particular, parents reported several positive aspects of AAC. However, parents also reported challenges, including speech-language therapist's lack of knowledge of and training in AAC.
Primary caregivers’ satisfaction on the provision of Speech and Language Therapy services for adults via telehealth in Sri Lankan Clinical Context
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2022) Ginigaddara, S.N.; Panterliyon, N.A.; Dharmarathna, N.I.
Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services became prominent as the main mode of service delivery, though it was not promptly practiced in Sri Lanka before. Therefore, speech and language therapists have started using social media platforms and social communication applications to deliver their services. In this context, the current study was conducted to determine the feasibility of utilizing telehealth for speech- language therapy services for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties in Sri Lanka. Mostly, adults with communication and swallowing difficulties may require support from a caregiver to facilitate telehealth sessions. Objectives: The study aimed 1-to determine the primary caregivers’ level of satisfaction on receiving speech- language therapy services for adults via telehealth, 2-to determine the socio-demographic factors which influence the primary caregivers’ level of satisfaction and 3- to identify the advantages and the limitations of telehealth from the perception of the primary caregivers. Methods: A mixed method study was conducted with one hundred and seven (n=107) participants who were identified from the two main adult rehabilitation hospitals and one private clinic in Sri Lanka. Study participants were Sinhala or English-speaking primary caregivers who had assisted the clients in receiving speech-language telehealth services. Every participant was asked to complete a self-administered online questionnaire which includes the adapted version of the "TeleMedicine Perception Questionnaire” (TMPQ), which was used as the main data collection instrument. Participants’ perceptions on the advantages and limitations of telehealth practices and the participants’ suggestions to overcome the limitations were collected as qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 software. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using a simple thematic analysis to identify the themes of advantages and limitations and suggestions of telehealth practice as perceived by the caregivers. Results: The mean total score (mean=75, SD= +2.76) of the TMPQ scale revealed that most of the primary caregivers were satisfied with the service delivered. A significant negative correlation between the age of the primary caregiver and the TMPQ total score was found (r=-.27, p=.006). When comparing the mean TMPQ scores, a significant difference was reported between caregivers who are siblings of the client and caregivers who are the offspring of the client (F (3.103) = 3.107, p = .030). The satisfaction level was more when the caregiver was an offspring (mean= 75.50, SD= + 2.38) of the client than it was a sibling (mean = 72.43, SD = + 4.392). Qualitative thematic analysis revealed cost-effectiveness, time effectiveness and safety of the client due to minimum exposure to COVID were the most common advantages perceived by the primary caregivers in Sri Lanka. Conclusion: According to the researchers’ understanding, this is the first study conducted to evaluate caregivers’ perceptions on telehealth in speech-language therapy in Sri Lanka. As in any other challenging situation, there are novel and innovative approaches that people develop to continue their lifestyle. During this pandemic, the world has witnessed the utilizing of modern technology for improved healthcare provision, including various telehealth practice modes. Even in an under-resourced country like Sri Lanka, the families are satisfied with the care they received for their loved ones through telehealth modes.
Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) into Sinhala language.
(University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Karunarathne, I.L.P.; Panterliyon, N.A.
BACKGROUND: Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is one of the self-evaluation instruments used for assessing patients with dysphagia. It is a reflection of the patient's quality of life in physical, emotional, and functional aspects. Although it is well-known and most used among English-speaking people, there is no available Sinhala version to be used in Sri Lankan context. The aim of this study was to translate, cross-culturally adapt and validate the DHI into the Sinhala Language. OBJECTIVE/S: The objectives of this study are to translate and cross-culturally adapt the original version of the DHI from English to Sinhala, to evaluate the internal consistency of the Sinhala Dysphagia Handicap Index (S-DHI) and to evaluate the content validity of the S-DHI. METHODS: This study comprised two phases. Phase 1 translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the DHI. It was explained under five stages such as forward translation of the DHI from English to Sinhala, synthesis of the translation, back translation of DHI from Sinhala to English, expert committee review, and pre-testing. Phase 2 involved evaluating the psychometric properties of the scale that was included testing the reliability and validity of the scale. Purposive sampling was the sampling method. A crosssectional was conducted with 125 adults (above 20 years) with dysphagia (target group) and 125 adults without dysphagia (control group). The target group was recruited from four dysphagia clinics at government hospitals in Sri Lanka (District hospitals of Gampaha, Ragama Rehabilitation, and Wathupitiwala). The control group was recruited from Mahara Niladhari Division. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was implemented to measure the internal consistency of the DHI. The expert panel performed the content validity, including nine speech and language pathologists with three years working experience with dysphagia disorder. The convergent validityof the DHI was assessed using hypothesis testing. RESULTS: The S-DHI and all subscales (physical, emotional, functional) showed higher internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha o.975, 0.96, 0.979 0.991) respectively. The S-DHI scores between the target group and the control group were significantly different (p<0.05). Content validation test revealed higher validity scores for the degree of relevance, degree of cultural appropriateness, and degree of simplicity (I-CVI= 0.99, 0.98, 0.98). CONCLUSION/S: The S-DHI has achieved higher internal consistency, convergent validity, and content validity. This scale can be used in both clinical and research settings in Sri Lanka.