ABSTRACT Background The field of speech and language pathology (SLP) expanded to a wide range of specialities, leading to a global trend to decrease the time spent on specific courses on children with cleft palate, with or without cleft lip (CP±L) in SLP education programmes. The lack of CP±L courses has resulted in a global shortage of well‐trained SLPs to deliver high‐quality services to this population. Therefore, alternative training formats are needed. Aim This study aimed to assess the training needs of Flemish speech and language pathologists (SLPs) working with children with CP±L by examining: (1) their current employment situation, experience and perceived competence regarding CP±L; (2) their preferences for the content, sources and organisation of continuing education on CP±L and (3) potential incentives and barriers to attend continuing education on CP±L. Methods and Procedures A self‐constructed online survey in Qualtrics XM , based on existing literature, was utilised. The study employed a descriptive, quantitative approach, supplemented with open‐ended questions to enrich and deepen the quantitative data. Outcomes and Results The 158 respondents had a mean work experience of 10 years, a median of 7 years and a mode (most frequently occurring value) of 5 years. Of these 158 respondents, 132 (83.5%) were young SLPs with professional experience ranging from 0 to 15 years. Of these, 53.8% (85/158) had previously treated one or more children with CP±L, of whom 71 (83.5%) had a caseload of 0–3 children within the last 5 years. The mean caseload for the 85 SLPs with experience was 4.74 cases, with a median of one child and a mode of one. Of the 85 respondents with experience, 9.4% (8/85) felt highly competent in treating feeding problems, while 58.8% (50/85) felt highly capable in treating speech and language problems. However, 60% (95/158) of the SLPs would refer children with CP±L, especially when having feeding problems or severe speech and language problems, such as compensatory articulation disorders (CADs) or submucosal cleft, as they feel a lack of competence. Two‐thirds (63.6%, 96/151) of the respondents who answered this question expressed a desire for continuing education in the assessment and treatment of children with CP±L. Conclusions and Implications Although many Flemish SLPs perceived themselves as highly competent in treating speech and language problems in children with CP±L, they reported a lack of competence in treating complex or severe cases. They expressed a strong demand for specific, highly practical continuing education on CP±L, taught by experts in the field and with personal guidance. Based on the existing literature, our experience with CP±L and the results of this survey, we developed a continuing education programme on CP±L as an alternative educational format, tailored to the needs of Flemish community SLPs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject Treating children with CP±L is complex and requires high‐quality care from specialised SLPs with sufficient clinical experience. However, there is a global trend to reduce dedicated coursework on CP±L in SLP training programmes. Instead, the subject is often briefly covered in general courses or offered as an elective. As a result, there is a shortage of well‐trained SLPs, creating an urgent need for alternative training formats. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study reveals that Flemish Community SLPs feel insufficiently trained to assess and treat children with CP±L who exhibit complex or severe problems, such as feeding problems, compensatory articulation disorders (CAD), velopharyngeal insufficiency or submucosal cleft palate. They have a strong need for theoretical knowledge and practical continuing education, preferably provided by experts in CP±L. They want a 1‐day or multi‐day training course that utilises extensive video footage, personal coaching, opportunities to observe experts and even an internship. Additionally, they want an online platform to collect and disseminate all knowledge and expertise. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Given the global decline in specific CP±L courses in SLP programmes, SLPs feel inadequately prepared to assess and treat these children correctly. This increases the risk that no results will be achieved or that undesirable results will occur. To prevent this, alternative training formats are needed. Based on this needs analysis, a training programme was developed for community SLPs, tailored to their needs to enable them to provide high‐quality speech therapy services.
Cocquyt et al. (Mon,) studied this question.