Service Delivery and the Use of Telepractice During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iceland

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in speech-language pathology service provision in Iceland during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Data were analyzed for 53 Icelandic speechlanguage pathologists (SLPs) who completed an online questionnaire between September and October 2020. Participants represented 54.1% of all SLPs practicing in Iceland. The questionnaire examined SLP employment status, populations served, and use of telepractice pre- COVID-19, during COVID-19, and after the first wave of COVID-19. Results: During COVID-19, speech-language pathology services in Iceland were reduced, but many SLPs were able to continue working in some capacity. Services to children and those with lifelong communication difficulties were most affected. There was an increase in the use of telepractice during the first wave of COVID-19, and the most frequently reported platform used was Kara Connect. Qualitative analysis of participants' free-text responses revealed that SLPs saw a range of advantages (themes SLP service delivery and client accessibility) and disadvantages (themes technology, personal, interpersonal, and clinical context) of telepractice. Conclusions: Telepractice provided a viable solution for maintaining clinical services in Iceland in response to restrictions on traditional in-person services. This survey provides a unique window into the practices of SLPs in a context that is underrepresented in the literature.