Knowledge, attitudes, and practice of health care ethics among speech & language therapists in BANGLADESH

Abstract

Background: Ethics require clinicians to treat patients with dignity, autonomy, and justice. SLTs help children, seniors, and disabled individuals swallow and communicate. The ethical standards of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) apply internationally. Underdeveloped countries like Bangladesh, where speech-language therapy is new, may struggle with healthcare ethics. SLT ethics may be affected by resource constraints, ethical training, and institutional inequality. Bangladeshi speech-language therapists' knowledge of healthcare ethics, attitudes, and practices are examined in this study. The findings will explain how ethical notions are applied to SLT practice in this environment and inform ethical competence and professionalism. Objective: To the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of health care ethics among speech-language Therapists in Bangladesh. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 101 SLTs in Bangladesh from February to November 2024. Self-administered questionnaire data were analysed using Pearson's chi-square test to determine statistical significance between male and female SLT healthcare professionals at P < 0.05. Result: The study showed that SLTs slightly greater than one-fifth of respondents, 50 (49.5%), had Yes knowledge about ethics codes, positive attitude towards healthcare ethics 73 (72.3%), and poor healthcare ethics of practice 42 (41.6%) respondents towards knowledge, attitudes, and practice of health care ethics among speech-language Therapists in Bangladesh. Conclusion: The Health professional SLTs lacked adequate knowledge and were unaware of Healthcare Ethics. They demonstrated a positive attitude toward healthcare ethics but were poor in practice. These findings indicate that SLTs must broaden their knowledge and practice to provide effective Healthcare Ethics. Keywords: Ethical committee, Healthcare Ethics, Speech Language Therapist.