Framing Disparities in Access to Medical Speech-Language Pathology Care in Rural Alabama.

Purpose: Rural-living residents of Alabama depend on rural hospitals and clinics staffed with physicians and allied health professionals including speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The purpose of the exploratory study was to examine the speech-language pathology workforce in health care facilities in nonmetropolitan Alabama counties to determine potential disparities in access and identify medical SLP deserts for rural Alabamians.

Method: The hospitals, rural health clinics, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers for each of the 37 nonmetropolitan counties were identified through the 2020 Alabama Department of Public Health directories, and phone surveys were completed to determine medical SLP staffing at each facility.

Sex and Race Reporting and Representation in Noncancerous Voice Clinical Trials: A Meta-Analysis of National Institutes of Health-Registered Research Between 1988 and 2021.

Purpose: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the frequency of sex, race, and ethnicity reporting and proportional representation in funded, noncancerous voice clinical trials to determine the state of compliance with National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for inclusivity in clinical research.

Method: Clinical trials registered with the NIH/U.S.

Potential Risks for Healthcare Disparities Among Individuals With Voice and Upper Airway Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To assess the potential epidemiological association between various possible risk factors and healthcare disparities specifically related to the access, use and/or quality of speech language pathology services for individuals with voice and upper airway disorders.

Method: A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Full text journal articles were identified through PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science.

Irritant-Induced Chronic Cough Triggers: A Scoping Review and Clinical Checklist.

Purpose The primary aim of this review was to identify environmental irritants known to trigger chronic cough through the life span and develop a comprehensive clinically useful irritant checklist. Method A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews, checklist, and explanation. English-language, full-text resources were identified through Medline, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.