How Can Speech and Language Therapists be Supported to Make Decisions Regarding Communication Therapy for People With Dementia? A Realist Theory-Development Study

Introduction

As of 2021, there were 57 million people with dementia worldwide, and there are 885,000 people with dementia in the UK. Communication difficulties occur in all forms of dementia. Increasing difficulty communicating thoughts and needs affects social interaction and personal relationships, with implications for individuals' and their relatives' quality of life. Speech and language therapists are trained to provide communication support to people experiencing communication difficulties. However, whether people with dementia are offered communication support from speech and language therapy services varies significantly across the UK. This study aimed to explain how speech and language therapists currently make clinical decisions about offering communication support, and to explain how further guidance such as a decision-aid for clinicians may help people with dementia to receive more equitable care.