Profile of speech-language-hearing pathologists working in head and neck cancer in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Purpose  To characterize the profile of Brazilian speech-language pathologists who work with patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods  This is a descriptive, exploratory, and cross-sectional study conducted by the Committee of the Brazilian Society of Speech-Language Pathology in partnership with the University of São Paulo. Data were collected through a semi-structured electronic questionnaire covering the following topics: sociodemographic data; education and professional practice in head and neck cancer; areas requiring further training; and the meaning of working in oncologic speech-language pathology.

Results  A total of 128 Brazilian speech-language pathologists identified as working in oncologic area participated in the study. Most participants were female, aged between 31 and 50, mainly working in the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil, with specialist certifications (mostly in dysphagia, voice, and/or orofacial motricity) and/or short-term postgraduate training in various areas of speech-language pathology. Among them, 43.75% held a master's or doctoral degree. Most reported working in more than one setting (e.g., hospital and private practice), with self-employed and formal contracts being the most common arrangements. The majority (92.2%) worked in oncology and other areas, and nearly half combined clinical practice with research, teaching, and/or administrative duties. Topics of greatest interest for further training included therapeutic techniques and palliative care. The words most frequently associated with the meaning of this work were: “quality of life,” “rehabilitation,” “reframe,” and “challenge.”

Conclusion  The practice of oncologic speech-language pathology is marked by diverse clinical contexts, multiple roles, and a continuous pursuit of professional development. This expanding field calls for structured policies in education and work to meet the clinical, ethical, and human demands of head and neck cancer rehabilitation.

Keywords:
Speech, language and hearing sciences; Head and neck neoplasms; Professional training; Job description; Specialization