Photobiomodulation in speech-language-hearing therapy: a profile of professional practice and the level of information of Brazilian speech-language-hearing therapists

Corresponding address: Giorvan Ânderson dos Santos Alves, Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB. Cidade Universitária, s/n - Conj. Pres. Castelo Branco III, CEP: 58051-900 - João Pessoa - Paraíba, Brasil, E-mail: anderson_ufpb@yahoo.com.br

Conflict of interests: Nonexistent

Figures (3)
Tables (5)

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Figure 1:
Distribution of the participating speech-language-hearing therapists according to their highest education level

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Figure 2:
Main field of specialization of the participating speech-language-hearing therapists

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Figure 3:
Measures of the frequency of the main photobiomodulation therapeutic effects

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Table 1:
Association between laser use in clinical practice and access to the recommendations of the Federal Speech-Language-Hearing Council

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Table 2:
Association between laser use in clinical practice and studies/qualification in photobiomodulation

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Table 3:
Association between the main specialization and laser use in clinical practice

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Table 4:
Association between time in the profession and laser use in clinical practice

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Question Answer options Age* Open-ended answer State where you work* AC, AL, AP, AM, BA, CE, DF, ES, GO, MA, MT, MS, MG, PA, PB, PR, PE, PI, RJ, RN, RS, RO, RR, SC, SP, SE, TO. Time working as a speech-language-hearing therapist* Up to 1 yearFrom 1 to 5 yearsFrom 5 to 10 yearsFrom 10 to 20 years21 years or more Education (highest degree) * Bachelor’s degreeSpecialization degreeSpecialization studentMaster’s degreeMaster’s studentDoctor’s degreeDoctoral student Your main specialization is in (if you have a postgraduate degree): * I do not have a specializationAUDIOLOGYLANGUAGEORAL-MOTOR FUNCTIONSPUBLIC HEALTHVOICEDYSPHAGIAEDUCATIONAL SLH PATHOLOGYGERONTOLOGYNEUROFUNCTIONAL SLH THERAPYOCCUPATIONAL SLH THERAPYNEUROPSYCHOLOGYFLUENCY Field(s) of work * AUDIOLOGYLANGUAGEORAL-MOTOR FUNCTIONSPUBLIC HEALTHVOICEDYSPHAGIAEDUCATIONAL SLH PATHOLOGYGERONTOLOGYNEUROFUNCTIONAL SLH THERAPYOCCUPATIONAL SLH THERAPYNEUROPSYCHOLOGYFLUENCY Work setting(s) * ClinicClassroomHome CareHospitalSchoolOther: Do you teach? (Only for professors) * UndergraduatePostgraduationBothNot applicable Teaches in Postgraduation (Only for professors) * SpecializationMaster’s or doctor’s programNoBothNot applicable Are you a professor whose content includes laser? * YesNoNot applicable Do you know what LASER THERAPY/PHOTOBIOMODULATION is? * YesNo Do you know the use of laser in speech-language-hearing therapy? * YesNo Have you ever researched or published anything in the field of laser therapy? * YesNo If so, what was the field of research or publication? * I did not research/publishAUDIOLOGYLANGUAGEORAL-MOTOR FUNCTIONSPUBLIC HEALTHVOICEDYSPHAGIAEDUCATIONAL SLH PATHOLOGYGERONTOLOGYNEUROFUNCTIONAL SLH THERAPYOCCUPATIONAL SLH THERAPYNEUROPSYCHOLOGYFLUENCY Have you had access to the CFFa recommendations on the use of laser by speech-language-hearing therapists? * YesNo Have you taken any studies/qualifications on laser therapy/photobiomodulation in SLH therapy or health care? * YesNo Course load taken in Laser therapy: * Open-ended answer Was laser therapy included at any moment during your undergraduate studies? * YesNo Was laser therapy included at any moment during your postgraduate studies? * YesNoI have not studied in postgraduation Do you have/have you had access to any bibliography related to the field of laser therapy in SLH therapy or health care * YesNo Do you have access to a low-level laser device? * Yes, I have a private deviceYes, I rented/borrowed oneYes, there is one at the university/laboratoryI do not have access to itOther: Do you normally use the laser in your clinical practice? * YesNo On a scale from 0 to 5, in which 0 means “never” and 5 means “always”, how often do you use the laser in your routine? ** 012345 In what cases do you most often use the laser? List three cases at most. ** Open-ended answer On a scale from 0 to 5, in which 0 means “nothing” and 5 means “much”, to what extent does low-level laser result in greater patient adherence? ** 012345 How long have you had your qualification in the field of laser therapy? (in years) ** Open-ended answer How long have you been using low-level laser in clinical practice? ** Open-ended answer At what moment of the therapy do you use the laser? ** BeginningMiddleEnd What photobiomodulation/laser therapeutic effect do you most often use in clinical routine? ** Open-ended answer Of the clinical situations below, in what indications for laser therapy do/would you intervene? (Only for oral-motor function specialists) * Facial palsyTMDBothIf you are not a specialist in oral-motor functions, this is not applicableOther: Do you agree that the speech-language-hearing therapist specialized in oral-motor functions must use laser therapy? (Answer only if you are an oral-motor function specialist) * YesNoNot applicable Do you know the biosafety rules to use the laser? * YesNo Do you agree that a speech-language-hearing therapist can use the low-level laser as a therapeutic resource? * YesNo Please, include comments you find appropriate to our survey or make any observation you consider important in the questionnaire: * Open-ended answer Caption: * required answer; ** answer applies only to professionals who use the resource in clinical practice; SLH: speech-language-hearing; CFFa: Federal Speech-Language-Hearing Council.

Laser use in clinical practice	Did not have access to the recommendations	Had access to the recommendations	% of the total	P-value
Laser not used	78 (55.7%)	62 (44.3%)	140 (53.6%)	p=0.0001*
Laser used	7 (5.8%)	114 (94.2%)	121 (46.4%)
% of the total	85 (32.6%)	176 (67.4%)	261 (100%)

Laser use in clinical practice	Did not study/qualify in photobiomodulation	Studied/qualified in photobiomodulation	% of the total	P-value
Laser not used	113 (80.7%)	27 (19.3%)	140 (53.6%)	p=0.0001*
Laser used	1 (0.8%)	120 (99.2%)	121 (46.4%)
% of the total	114 (43.7%)	147 (56.3%)	261 (100%)

Main specialization	Laser not used	Laser used	% of the total	P-value
Audiology	17 (65.4%)	9 (34.6%)	26 (10%)	p=0.0001*
Dysphagia	24 (43.6%)	31 (56.4%)	55 (21.1%)
Fluency	2 (100%)	0 (0%)	2 (0.8%)
Occupational SLH Therapy	1 (100%)	0 (0%)	1 (0.4%)
Educational SLH Pathology	1 (50%)	1 (50%)	2 (0.8%)
Neurofunctional SLH Therapy	3 (30%)	7 (70%)	10 (3.8%)
Gerontology	1 (25%)	3 (75%)	4 (1.5%)
Language	12 (75%)	4 (25%)	16 (6.1%)
Oral-Motor Functions	14 (28.6%)	35 (71.4%)	49 (18.8%)
Neuropsychology	2 (100%)	0 (0%)	2 (0.8%)
Public Health	6 (100%)	0 (0%)	6 (2.3%)
Voice	17 (43.6%)	22 (56.4%)	39 (14.9%)
Do not have a specialization	40 (81.6%)	9 (18.4%)	49 (18.7%)
% of the total	140 (53.6%)	121 (46.4%)	261 (100%)

Time in the profession	Laser not used	Laser used	% of the total	P-value
Up to 1 year	16 (84.2%)	3 (15.8%)	19 (7.3%)	p=0.0001*
From 1 to 5 years	51 (76.1%)	16 (23.9%)	67 (25.7%)
From 5 to 10 years	10 (45.5%)	12 (54.5%)	22 (8.4%)
From 10 to 20 years	36 (40.9%)	52 (59.1%)	88 (33.7%)
21 years or more	27 (41.5%)	38 (58.5%)	65 (24.9%)
% of the total	140 (53.6%)	121 (46.4%)	261 (100%)

[1] Corresponding address: Giorvan Ânderson dos Santos Alves, Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba - UFPB. Cidade Universitária, s/n - Conj. Pres. Castelo Branco III, CEP: 58051-900 - João Pessoa - Paraíba, Brasil, E-mail: anderson_ufpb@yahoo.com.br

Brasil

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Photobiomodulation in speech-language-hearing therapy: a profile of professional practice and the level of information of Brazilian speech-language-hearing therapists

ABSTRACT

Purpose:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusion: