Adapting a group-based, multimodal aphasia treatment for telehealth - co-design of M-MAT Tele.

Multi-Modality Aphasia Treatment (M-MAT) is an effective group intervention for post-stroke aphasia. M-MAT employs interactive card games and the modalities of gesture, drawing, reading, and writing to improve spoken language. However, there are challenges to implementation of group interventions such as M-MAT, particularly for those who cannot travel or live in rural areas.

Health professionals' practices and perspectives of post-stroke coordinated discharge planning: a national survey.

Background It is best practice for stroke services to coordinate discharge care plans with primary/community care providers to ensure continuity of care. This study aimed to describe health professionals' practices in stroke discharge planning within Australia and the factors influencing whether discharge planning is coordinated between hospital and primary/community care providers. Methods A mixed-methods survey informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework was distributed nationally to stroke health professionals regarding post-stroke discharge planning practices and factors influencing coordinated discharge planning (CDP).

Economic evaluation of an integrated virtual care programme for people with chronic illness who are frequent users of health services in Australia.

Objective: The MeCare programme is a tailored virtual care initiative targeted at frequent users of health services who have at least one chronic condition including cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. The programme aims to prevent unnecessary hospitalisations by helping patients to self-manage, improve their health literacy and engage in positive health behaviours. This study investigates the impact of the MeCare programme on healthcare resource use, costs and patient-reported outcomes.

"Self-management has to be the way of the future": Exploring the perspectives of speech-language pathologists who work with people with aphasia.

Purpose: Healthcare models have incorporated self-management approaches to facilitate increased patient responsibility for chronic condition management. As aphasia is a chronic condition, self-management may be beneficial for people with aphasia; however, the possible impacts of the language disorder on self-management must be acknowledged and addressed. Speech-language pathologists would likely be principal providers of self-management support; therefore, their perspectives should be sought when considering development of aphasia self-management approaches.

"There are endless areas that they can use it for": speech-language pathologist perspectives of technology support for aphasia self-management.

Background: Aphasia is a debilitating acquired language disorder that often persists as a chronic condition. However, long-term support options are scarce, necessitating the consideration of alternative approaches. Chronic condition self-management approaches, which aim to build self-efficacy and empower people to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of their health condition, may benefit people with aphasia (PwA).

Communication partner perspectives of aphasia self-management and the role of technology: an in-depth qualitative exploration.

Purpose: "Self-management" empowers individuals to take responsibility for their healthcare through skill-building, personal growth, and self-efficacy related to chronic health condition management. Self-management approaches may benefit people with aphasia (PwA); however, PwA are often excluded from stroke self-management research and there is no published research reporting on aphasia-specific self-management programs. Communication partners (CPs) are involved in the rehabilitation and day-to-day lives of PwA, thus giving them unique insights and knowledge of PwA needs.

People with aphasia share their views on self-management and the role of technology to support self-management of aphasia.

Purpose: Self-management can lead to increased self-efficacy and improved quality of life for individuals with chronic conditions; however, there is little research exploring how self-management approaches can be used for chronic communication disorders, such as aphasia. Modifications to self-management approaches would be required to accommodate for aphasia; therefore, the input of people with aphasia (PwA) should be sought. The aims of the present study were: (1) To investigate and document the experiences and perspectives of PwA regarding self-management; (2) To explore how technology can be used to support aphasia self-management.

The impact of the telerehabilitation group aphasia intervention and networking programme on communication, participation, and quality of life in people with aphasia.

Aphasia group therapy can result in improvements in communication, participation and quality of life (QOL). However, evidence for aphasia group interventions with combined aims across the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is limited. TeleGAIN is a holistic aphasia group intervention that can be delivered via telepractice.

The feasibility of delivering constraint-induced language therapy via the Internet.

Objective: This study is designed to determine the feasibility of the provision of an evidenced-based aphasia therapy, constraint-induced language therapy, via telerehabilitation. It describes the computer software that was developed specifically for the delivery of constraint-induced language therapy in the online environment and presents two case studies.

Methods: Two participants with chronic aphasia were assessed before and after a two-week intensive treatment block of constraint-induced language therapy delivered via Web-based videoconferencing.

The development and feasibility of an online aphasia group intervention and networking program - TeleGAIN.

Purpose: Aphasia group therapy offers many benefits, however people with aphasia report difficulty accessing groups and speech-language pathologists are faced with many challenges in providing aphasia group therapy. Telerehabilitation may offer an alternative service delivery option. An online aphasia group therapy program - Telerehabilitation Group Aphasia Intervention and Networking (TeleGAIN) - has been developed according to the guidelines of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for complex interventions.