Oral Presentation Smart Strokes Annual Scientific Meeting 2025

Evaluating the Acceptability of Components of TeleCHAT when Delivered in a Clinical Rehabilitation Service: Perspectives of People with Aphasia (127308)

Hannah Wedley 1 2 , Jade Dignam 1 2 , Kirstine Shrubsole 1 2 , Genevieve Vuong 1 2 3 , David Copland 1 2 , Annie Hill 4
  1. Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) Education and Research Alliance, The University of Queensland and Metro North Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  2. Queensland Aphasia Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  3. Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University , Bilinga, QLD, Australia
  4. Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation and Recovery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Introduction: Implementation of telerehabilitation in aphasia management is limited despite evidence for its feasibility1. The perspectives of people with aphasia's participation in telerehabilitation is necessary to understand barriers and facilitators in delivering services.

Aim: To evaluate the acceptability of delivering components of TeleCHAT, a comprehensive, high-dose aphasia treatment via telerehabilitation, in clinical rehabilitation services.

Methods: A phase 1, multi-site feasibility study. Five adults (3F, 2M; mean age 54.4years, SD=8.2; mean time post onset 7.2months, SD=4.1) with post-stroke aphasia were recruited from three metropolitan outpatient and community rehabilitation services. Speech Pathologists received training via online modules and a practical workshop. Components of TeleCHAT (impairment, functional and group therapy) were adapted and delivered via Microsoft Teams®. People with aphasia’s acceptability was measured post-therapy using semi-structured interviews and a 31-question satisfaction survey with a 5-point Likert scale. Survey data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis2.

Results: Participants received a mean of 13.7 hours of therapy via telerehabilitation (SD=9.72; range 4.5-26 hours). Participants reported high satisfaction with the components of TeleCHAT they received, and would recommend it to others (M=4.8, SD=0.45, range 4-5). Participants reported feeling comfortable talking with their clinician over telerehabilitation (M=5) and felt well-supported (M=4.6, SD=0.55, range 4-5), highlighting “convenience” of accessing therapy at home as a strength of the program. Communication confidence improved (M=4.6, SD=0.54, range 4-5), reporting the program helped “my confidence...gave me motivation to be in society”. Suggested improvements included simplifying processes to join the videoconferencing call and increasing size of therapy stimuli on the screen.

Conclusion: With appropriate clinician training and adaptations, people with aphasia found the components of TeleCHAT delivered acceptable.

Relevance to clinical practice or patient experience: Incorporating perspectives of end-users in the development of telerehabilitation interventions will help to improve models of care and access to services.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Cetinkaya, Berzan, Katherine Twomey, Bria Bullard, Sabrina EL Kouaissi, and Paul Conroy. 2023. “Telerehabilitation of Aphasia: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” Aphasiology 38 (7): 1271–1302. doi:10.1080/02687038.2023.2274621.
  2. Graneheim, U.H. and B. Lundman, Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Education Today, 2004. 24(2): p. 105-12.