Perceived Professional and Institutional Factors Influencing Clinical Adoption of Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry

Purpose: We assessed experienced clinicians' perceptions of benefits and drawbacks to the clinical adoption of pharyngeal high-resolution manometry (HRM). This article focuses on the professional and institutional factors that influence the clinical adoption of pharyngeal HRM by speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Method: Two surveys (closed- and open-ended questions) and a series of focus groups were completed with SLP members of both the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the Dysphagia Research Society (DRS). Transcripts were inductively coded for emergent themes. Results: Thirteen SLPs were recruited to attend focus group sessions at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Eighty-seven SLPs responded to the DRS open-set response survey. Two additional focus groups of 11 SLPs were convened at the DRS meeting. Conventional content analysis revealed overall SLP enthusiasm for the clinical use of HRM, with some concerns about the technology adoption process. The following themes related to the professional and institutional factors influencing clinical adoption were identified: (a) scope of practice, (b) access, (c) clinical workflow, and (d) reimbursement. Conclusion: These data serve to elucidate the most salient factors relating to the clinical adoption of pharyngeal HRM into routine speech-language pathology clinical practice. While enthusiasm exists, a variety of systems-level issues must be addressed to support this process.