Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a fundamental principle in numerous professional disciplines, including speech and language therapy, as it emphasizes the integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and the needs of the individual client. EBP is essential for delivering high-quality, effective, and individualized therapy, as it is grounded in scientifically validated approaches. Despite its established role internationally, its implementation in Slovenia remains under-researched, raising questions about the awareness, acceptance, and use of the concept among Slovenian speech and language therapists.
The aim of this master’s thesis was to examine Slovenian speech and language therapists’ attitudes towards EBP, identify barriers to its implementation, and analyze the prevalence of specific therapeutic approaches used in the intervention of functional speech sound disorders. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed and completed by 55 Slovenian speech and language therapists.
The results indicate generally positive attitudes towards EBP among Slovenian clinicians, while also revealing the presence of multiple barriers that hinder its full integration into clinical practice. The most frequently reported barriers include lack of time, workload-related pressures, limited access to professional resources, and gaps in formal and statistical knowledge. The most used approaches for the intervention of functional speech sound disorders were the traditional articulation therapy and the minimal pairs approach, while several other evidence-based methods were less well-known and rarely applied. Participants also frequently reported combining features from different approaches, which may suggest limited implementation of EBP in practice.
This research contributes to a better understanding of speech and language therapy practice in Slovenia and encourages further investigation into clinicians’ competencies in EBP.
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