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| Title: | Can a web portal enhance collaboration between speech and language therapists and primary school teachers? / [thesis] Duana Quigley |
| Other titles: | A dissertation submitted to the University of Dublin, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Health Informatics |
| Authors: | Quigley, Duana |
| Affiliation: | Health Service Executive (HSE) |
| Publisher: | University of Dublin Trinity College (TCD) |
| Issue date: | 10-May-2009 |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10147/95043 |
| Type: | Thesis |
| Language: | en |
| Description: | The objective of this study was to explore if the introduction of a web
portal could potentially enhance collaboration between Speech and
Language Therapists (SLTs) and teachers. No such web portal currently
exists. A qualitative methodology was used with the aim of obtaining a
deeper insight into the beliefs, perceptions and experiences of the
participants including: what influences collaboration; what are the
advantages and disadvantages of collaboration; what elements do SLTs and
teachers consider necessary to be included in the design of a web portal to
enhance collaboration; and what are the potential advantages, disadvantages
and barriers to the use of a web portal for collaboration.
The data collected from twenty-four semi-structured interviews was
analysed through a six-stage process of thematic analysis, as described by
Attride-Stirling (2001). Four Global Themes were extracted from the data:
desired specifications of the web portal; potential incentives to use the web
portal; potential disincentives to use the web portal; and supports that
could facilitate optimal use of the web portal. The desired specifications
expressed by the informants included informational elements,
supplementing a child’s SLT record, supplementing school records, easy
access to resources and links to other professionals and services. Potential
incentives consisted of the advantages and benefits of collaboration,
enabling more regular contact, having a written record of collaborative
attempts, easier access to resources and information, increasing
understanding of each profession’s role, cost-savings, fostering positive
relationships and integrating SLTs more into the education setting.
Potential disincentives comprised of lack of funding for IT equipment and
development of a web portal, lack of IT skills and knowledge, concerns
around security, lack of time to use it due to existing workloads, a
perception that it may not be necessary to collaborate for some children,
and personality and attitudes. Supports that could facilitate optimal use
included funding, training, IT support, supportive organisational structures
v i
and policies, and having the web portal supplemented by other oral
methods of communication.
The findings support previous investigations on the benefits and barriers to
collaboration between SLTs and teachers. Furthermore, it has emphasised
the perception of Irish SLTs and teachers that changes are needed to their
current haphazard collaborative practices and the perception that blurring
of boundaries between health and education are required.
No previous studies have explored the potential use of web portal for
collaboration between SLTs and teachers. Hence, this study has provided
the opinions of both professions on this innovative topic and added
knowledge to both interest groups on the feasibility of using a web portal
for collaboration and how it could be facilitated to maximise its advantages
and minimise the obstacles. On the whole, the findings have indicated that
SLTs and teachers would eagerly support the introduction of a web portal
to enhance existing collaborative practices, but not to completely replace
them. This was accounted for by an overwhelming majority feeling that
face-to-face communication is superior and cannot be replaced by written
or virtual communication, and a reluctance to put sensitive information in a
written format.
Furthermore, this research study has clearly outlined the desired
specifications for the web portal based on consultation with the intended
users, thus providing a platform from where design and implementation
could commence. The designers and implementers would also benefit from
the study’s findings in relation to potential incentives and disincentives, and
supports that could facilitate optimal use of the web portal. Moreover, this
research study provides direction for an iterative, multi-factorial evaluation
that will be a vital component of the web portal implementation. Thus,
ensuring the most successful adoption of this innovative proposal. |
| Keywords: | TEACHER
TEACHING MATERIAL
INFORMATICS
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INTERNET |
| Local subject classification: | SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPISTS
COLLORATION
WEB PORTAL |
| Appears in collections: | Theses
|
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