Background: According to the World Health Organization, social isolation, particularly of older adults, is a public health issue endangering the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Social isolation affects health through biological, behavioral, and psychological pathways and is associated with physical and psychological/emotional well-being, increases morbidity and mortality rates, and lowers quality of life. Purpose: This systematic review examined the relationship between social isolation and physical health, including subjective and objective dimensions, and factors that influence this relationship in adults. Methods: This systematic review examined six electronic databases covering the field of health and human services and included results from 1 January 2017 to 10 March 2023 with key terms including adult social connection or social isolation coupled with health, physical, psychological, emotional, mental, or behavioral. The initial search yielded 925 research articles across all databases and was narrowed to 710 when the decision was made to focus on social isolation and physical health. Covidence was used throughout the retrieval and appraisal process, as provided in a PRISMA flow diagram. Twenty-four studies that scored 90 or above in the appraisal process were included in the systematic review. Results: The studies represented included seven studies conducted in the United States and seventeen studies conducted internationally. Regarding study design, twenty-three studies were quantitative, one was qualitative, and one was mixed methods. The majority of quantitative studies were correlational in design with nine being longitudinal. The majority of studies were based on large national data sets representing in total 298,653 participants aged 50 and older. The results indicate that social isolation is related to increases in inflammatory biomarkers associated with diseases, all-cause mortality, lower expectations of longevity, and frailty. In addition, social isolation was associated with cognitive decline and disruptions in sleep. Poor oral health increased social isolation. The results further indicated that decreased physical performance/function and a decline in physical activity were associated with social isolation, as well as decreased overall physical health, poor health behaviors, and self-care, and decreased health-related quality of life. Further research is warranted to examine the possible bidirectionality of these relationships and possible mediating, moderating, or confounding variables. Implications: Future research is needed to explore the biological and behavioral pathways in which social isolation negatively impacts physical health. Going forward, studies are needed that move beyond descriptive, exploratory methods and integrate data from qualitative and mixed-method designs that will inform the development and testing of a conceptual framework related to social isolation and health. By advancing the science behind social isolation, comprehensive interventions can be identified and tested with implications at the individual, family, community, and societal levels to reduce social isolation, particularly among adults, and improve health and quality of life.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine practices regarding cleft lip and palate (CLP) among medical professionals and caregivers of children with CLP and to identify barriers and facilitators to comprehensive CLP care at a hospital in West Africa. Design: Qualitative methods used consisted of individual semistructured interviews with caregivers of children with CLP and one focus group with CLP team members. Setting: A majority of the interviews took place in the hospital, with some occurring during home visits. The focus group was conducted in the same hospital. Participants: Forty-five caregivers of children with CLP and 1 adult with CLP completed an interview. Additionally, 2 of the caregivers had CLP and completed an interview from their perspective. The focus group consisted of 13 CLP team members from a comprehensive CLP team in Ghana. Interventions: Interviews consisted of semistructured, open-ended questions, and the focus group relied on a discussion guide. Line-by-line coding was used to identify common themes regarding barriers and facilitators to CLP care. Results: Barriers to CLP care that were consistent across caregiver interviews and the focus group were lack of knowledge regarding CLP, stigma and cultural beliefs surrounding CLP, transportation, financial, and feeding/nutrition issues. Barriers to care identified in the interviews and focus group were similar; however, facilitators to care varied greatly between the 2. Conclusions: Two different qualitative methods provided unique perspectives on barriers and facilitators to CLP care. However, patients and caregivers continue to face substantial barriers to obtaining care.

Purpose: This commentary describes the development of global partnerships, capacity-building, and the basis for the creation of a website (Leadersproject.org) used throughout the world that contains free educational resources for the assessment and treatment of people with communication disabilities (PWCD). This website contains speech-language assessment and treatment materials, online skill-building courses, over 200 instructional videos, train-the-trainer course materials, and syntheses of important research and trainings in over 30 languages. This commentary relates the work from leadersproject.org to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Result: Through this website, the authors have established ongoing global partnerships with other health and education professionals. Moreover, PWCD and their families have used the website for information and support throughout the world. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and other health and education professionals use these materials to host capacity-building trainings and to support the development of knowledge and skills to local professionals for the benefit of PWCD. The Leadersproject.org resources have been influential and impactful as measured by approximately 24 000 visits from over 130 countries throughout the world. Conclusion: The authors of this paper continue to establish partnerships worldwide to spread education and increase the quality of care provided to PWCD. This commentary paper focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

Purpose: A shortage of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with expertise in cleft lip and palate (CLP) care exists in the United States and worldwide. Limited educational and clinical preparation can result in ineffective intervention for individuals with CLP. Yet, comprehensive cleft care is a requisite for patients who require such services from SLPs. It is critical that practitioners possess the necessary knowledge and skills. In response to the shortage of qualified personnel, the authors developed an online cleft palate self-study course. This clinical focus article discusses the development process and provides a description of the video tutorials. A preliminary examination of the effectiveness of the tutorials via a quasi-experimental study was conducted with a group of 25 graduate students who had not taken an undergraduate or graduate course that either exclusively or partially covered the topic of CLP. Conclusion: Initial investigation of the tutorials via quasi-experimental assessment and feedback from consumers suggests that this resource may serve as an alternative and/or supplemental tool for the education of SLPs, parents, and allied professionals.

Purpose: Comprehensive cleft care is an important component when caring for a child with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP ± L). Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) serve different capacities on comprehensive cleft palate and craniofacial teams. Method: This tutorial highlights the role of the SLP on the cleft palate and craniofacial team from the prenatal consultation to adulthood. This tutorial emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the cleft team SLP and other professionals on a comprehensive cleft team. Additionally, the tutorial provides education for feeding infants with CP ± L and focuses on assessment and treatment of children with CP ± L before and after the palate repair. Finally, this tutorial underscores the importance of working as part of and collaborating with interdisciplinary team members. Results: SLPs are an essential member of comprehensive cleft teams in addition to other medical providers. SLPs play a critical role on these multidisciplinary teams and are fundamental to the assessment and treatment of feeding, speech, language, and resonance disorders in children with CP ± L. Conclusion: It is critical that SLPs are involved in comprehensive cleft team care from the prenatal consultation through adulthood to monitor resonance, speech, and language development and outcomes.

This study aimed to examine self-efficacy as graduate students gained clinical skills during an intensive international cleft lip and palate (CLP) clinical practicum. A total of 17 graduate students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at Teachers College (TC), Columbia University, participated in a CLP clinical practicum for 5 days and completed a self-efficacy survey that measured their confidence in evaluation, treatment, and professional behavior at the beginning and end of their CLP clinical practicum. Clinical supervisors answered questions regarding graduate students’ performance at the end of their CLP clinical practicum. A significant pre-to-post-practicum group effect was found for all dependent variables under the self-efficacy evaluation and treatment categories. Supervisors’ perceptions of students’ initial performance and progression were overall consistent with the students’ ratings of self-efficacy. This intensive practicum program for CLP may be an effective way to increase graduate students’ experiences in working with children with CLP.