Telehealth practice in aphasia: A survey of UK speech and language therapists, with a focus on assessment.

Background And Objectives: Evidence suggests telehealth in speech and language therapy can enhance access to care, cost-effectiveness and satisfaction. However, little is known about use of telehealth in the United Kingdom. Moreover, many assessments/outcome measures for aphasia have been tested for face-to-face administration only, posing challenges to reliable use within the telehealth context.

Speech, language and communication needs and mental health: the experiences of speech and language therapists and mental health professionals.

Background: While the relationship between speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and mental health difficulties has been recognized, speech and language therapists (SLTs), and mental health professionals face challenges in assessing and treating children with these co-occurring needs. There exists a gap in the evidence base for best practice for professionals working with children and young people (CYP) who experience difficulties in both areas.

Aims: To explore the views of SLTs and mental health clinicians about their experiences of working with CYP exhibiting co-occurring SLCN and mental health difficulties.

A pilot economic evaluation of a feasibility trial for SUpporting wellbeing through PEeR-Befriending (SUPERB) for post-stroke aphasia.

Objectives: To explore the feasibility of a full economic evaluation of usual care plus peer-befriending versus usual care control, and potential cost-effectiveness of peer-befriending for people with aphasia. To report initial costs, ease of instruments' completion and overall data completeness.

Design: Pilot economic evaluation within a feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Solution Focused Brief Therapy in Post-Stroke Aphasia (SOFIA): feasibility and acceptability results of a feasibility randomised wait-list controlled trial.

Objectives: The Solution Focused Brief Therapy in Post-Stroke Aphasia feasibility trial had four primary aims: to assess (1) acceptability of the intervention to people with aphasia, including severe aphasia, (2) feasibility of recruitment and retention, (3) acceptability of research procedures and outcome measures, and (4) feasibility of delivering the intervention by speech and language therapists.

Design: Two-group randomised controlled feasibility trial with wait-list design, blinded outcome assessors and nested qualitative research.

Setting: Participants identified via two community NHS Speech and Language Therapy London services and through community routes (eg, voluntary-sector stroke groups).

SUpporting wellbeing through PEeR-Befriending (SUPERB) feasibility trial: fidelity of peer-befriending for people with aphasia.

Objective: To evaluate systematically the fidelity of a peer-befriending intervention for people with aphasia.

Design: SUpporting wellbeing through Peer-befriending (SUPERB) was a feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing usual care to usual care +peer-befriending. This paper reports on the fidelity of all intervention aspects (training and supervision of providers/befrienders; intervention visits) which was evaluated across all areas of the Behaviour Change Consortium framework.

"Now I Am Myself": Exploring How People With Poststroke Aphasia Experienced Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Within the SOFIA Trial.

Aphasia, a language disability, can profoundly affect a person's mood and identity. The experiences of participants who received Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, a psychological intervention, were explored in the Solution-Focused brief therapy In poststroke Aphasia (SOFIA) Trial. Thirty participants with chronic aphasia, 14 with severe aphasia, participated in in-depth interviews that were analyzed using framework analysis.

'Emotion is of the essence. … Number one priority': A nested qualitative study exploring psychosocial adjustment to stroke and aphasia.

Background: Stroke and aphasia can have a profound impact on people's lives, and depression is a common, frequently persistent consequence. Social networks also suffer, with poor social support associated with worse recovery. It is essential to support psychosocial well-being post-stroke, and examine which factors facilitate successful adjustment to living with aphasia.

Supporting wellbeing through peer-befriending (SUPERB) for people with aphasia: A feasibility randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of peer-befriending, for people with aphasia.

Design: Single-blind, parallel-group feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing usual care to usual care + peer-befriending.

Participants And Setting: People with aphasia post-stroke and low levels of distress, recruited from 5 NHS Hospitals and linked community services; their significant others; and 10 befrienders recruited from community.

Adjustment with aphasia after stroke: study protocol for a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial for SUpporting wellbeing through PEeR Befriending (SUPERB).

Background: Despite the high prevalence of mood problems after stroke, evidence on effective interventions particularly for those with aphasia is limited. There is a pressing need to systematically evaluate interventions aiming to improve wellbeing for people with stroke and aphasia. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a peer-befriending intervention.

"I've got somebody there, someone cares": what support is most valued following a stroke?

Purpose: There is often a need for increased support following a stroke. This study explored what types of support are provided by different network members and what support functions are most valued.

Methods: Adults with first stroke were recruited from a stroke unit and participated in in-depth interviews 8-15 months poststroke.

Supporting people with aphasia to 'settle into a new way to be': speech and language therapists' views on providing psychosocial support.

Background: People with aphasia are at risk of becoming depressed and isolated. Online surveys have found that the majority of speech and language therapists (SLTs) lack confidence in addressing the psychological needs of people with aphasia.

Aims: To explore how SLTs conceptualize the scope of their role; barriers and facilitators to SLTs addressing psychosocial needs; and SLTs' experiences of specialist training and support, and working with mental health professionals (MHPs).

A Typology to Explain Changing Social Networks Post Stroke.

Background And Objectives: Social network typologies have been used to classify the general population but have not previously been applied to the stroke population. This study investigated whether social network types remain stable following a stroke, and if not, why some people shift network type.

Research Design And Methods: We used a mixed methods design.

How do speech-and-language therapists address the psychosocial well-being of people with aphasia? Results of a UK online survey.

Background: The psychosocial impact of stroke and aphasia is considerable.

Aims: To explore UK speech-and-language therapists' (SLTs) clinical practice in addressing the psychological and social needs of people with aphasia, including their experiences of working with mental health professionals.

Methods & Procedures: A 22-item online survey was distributed to UK SLTs via the British Aphasiology Society mailing list and Clinical Excellence Networks.

What Factors Predict Who Will Have a Strong Social Network Following a Stroke?

Purpose: Measures of social networks assess the number and nature of a person's social contacts, and strongly predict health outcomes. We explored how social networks change following a stroke and analyzed concurrent and baseline predictors of social networks 6 months poststroke.

Method: We conducted a prospective longitudinal observational study.

'Living with Aphasia the Best Way I Can': A Feasibility Study Exploring Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for People with Aphasia.

Objective: Post-stroke aphasia can profoundly affect a person's social and emotional well-being. This study explored the feasibility of solution-focused brief therapy as an accessible intervention and investigated its impact on participants' psychosocial well-being.

Participants And Methods: This is a small-scale repeated-measures feasibility study.

A systematic review of the impact of stroke on social support and social networks: associated factors and patterns of change.

Objective: Identify what factors are associated with functional social support and social network post stroke; explore stroke survivors' perspectives on what changes occur and how they are perceived.

Data Sources: The following electronic databases were systematically searched up to May 2015: Academic Search Complete; CINAHL Plus; E-journals; Health Policy Reference Centre; MEDLINE; PsycARTICLES; PsycINFO; and SocINDEX.

Review Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed in the conduct and reporting of this review.

Stroke Social Network Scale: development and psychometric evaluation of a new patient-reported measure.

Objective: To describe the development and psychometric evaluation of a new patient-reported measure that assesses a person's social network in the first six months post stroke. Although it is known that the social networks of those with stroke and aphasia are vulnerable to change, there is currently no social network scale that has been validated for this population.

Design And Setting: Repeated measures psychometric study, evaluating internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness to change of the Stroke Social Network Scale.

Does mode of administration affect health-related quality-of-life outcomes after stroke?

Telephone interviews and postal surveys may be a resource-efficient way of assessing health-related quality-of-life post-stroke, if they produce data equivalent to face-to-face interviews. This study explored whether telephone interviews and postal surveys of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39g) yielded similar results to face-to-face interviews. Participants included people with aphasia and comprised two groups: group one (n =22) were 3-6 months post-stroke; group two (n =26) were ≥1 year post-stroke.

Why do people lose their friends after a stroke?

Background: It is well-known that people lose friends after a stroke; what is less well understood is why this occurs.

Aims: This study explored why people lose contact with their friends, and whether there are any protective factors. It also examined how friendship loss and change is perceived by the individual.

Psychological distress after stroke and aphasia: the first six months.

Objective: We explored the factors that predicted psychological distress in the first six months post stroke in a sample including people with aphasia.

Design: Prospective longitudinal observational study.

Setting And Subjects: Participants with a first stroke from two acute stroke units were assessed while still in hospital (baseline) and at three and six months post stroke.

Psychometric properties of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39) in a generic stroke population.

Background: We previously developed the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life scale (SAQOL-39) and tested it with people with chronic aphasia. A scale allowing comparisons of quality of life between people with versus without aphasia post-stroke would be of value to clinicians.

Objectives: To evaluate the psychometrics of the SAQOL-39 in a generic stroke sample.