We are currently completing a study to assist in identifying key research priorities for Speech and Language Therapists working in the area of frailty as part of a larger PhD study. As you are aware there is a paucity of research around how SLTs provide evidence-based assessment and intervention to our patient cohort, little recognition of the SLT role within the frameworks of frailty and reduced awareness of how SLT adds value to this population. This Delphi study therefore hopes to undertake a priority setting exercise to identify questions for future research in this emerging area of practice and gather professional views around areas of common interest.

This study has inclusion criteria which we think you might meet. The inclusion criteria is as follows:

• SLTs working within a specialist frailty team, either in community or acute setting
• SLT managers providing clinical supervision and engaging in service development within the area of frailty

 If you consent to be included in the survey it should take approximately 20 minutes to complete. We anticipate there will be two or three rounds, with the second survey being sent to you in August/September 2024. The deadline for our initial survey is 31st July 2024 and the link is here. If you wish to withdraw your participation at any time during the study, you are free to do so.

https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/ulster/identifying-key-priorities-around-the-speech-and-language-the-3

Thank you very much for considering completing this survey. If you are aware of any eligible SLT colleagues who would also like to contribute to this study, we would be very grateful if you could supply them with this information and to complete the consent form and survey supplied.  

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any further questions in relation to any aspect of this study at Hilton-D1@ulster.ac.uk.

Denise Hilton, PhD Researcher, Ulster University

Supervisors: Professor George Kerohan (wg.kernohan@ulster.ac.uk) and Dr Orla Duffy (od.duffy@ulster.ac.uk)