The role of an inpatient aphasia-friendly choir for people with post-stroke communication impairment from the perspective of the multidisciplinary team: An exploratory study.

Background: There is a growing body of evidence showing the value of community singing-based rehabilitation on psychosocial well-being and communication for people with post-stroke communication impairment (PSCI). However, there has been little consideration of the potential value an inpatient aphasia-friendly choir may have through the perspective of the stroke multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Aims: To explore the experiences and views of the MDT on the role an established inpatient aphasia-friendly choir, at a stroke rehabilitation centre in South Wales, UK, may play in the rehabilitation of people with PSCI.

Methods & Procedures: Eight participants were recruited from the stroke rehabilitation centre's MDT. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the verbatim transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clark's work of 2006.

Outcomes & Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) breaking down social isolation barriers; (2) patient voice and patient choice; (3) collective well-being and engagement; and (4) the therapeutic benefits across the MDT. The experiences and perceptions overlap, highlighting the wide-reaching therapeutic benefits of singing collaboratively.

Conclusions & Implications: This research enables us to discover more about how the inpatient aphasia-friendly choir may enhance an individual's well-being, communication and confidence, and their overall rehabilitation from the MDT's perspective. By increasing our understanding of which aspects of the aphasia-friendly choir are most valued, future choir sessions can be better tailored to patients' needs. Additionally, the findings presented here could be taken forward and included in future speech and language therapy interventions, leading to increased patient ownership, not only of the choir but also of their other therapy goals.

What This Paper Adds: What is already known on this subject Previous research suggests positive implications for therapeutic collaborative singing on psychosocial well-being and communication for people with PSCI. There has been little consideration of the potential value an inpatient aphasia-friendly choir may have through the lens of the stroke MDT. The aim of this research was to explore the experiences and views of the MDT on the role an established inpatient aphasia-friendly choir may play in the rehabilitation of people with PSCI. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This research highlights the benefits of an inpatient aphasia-friendly choir for an individual's well-being, communication and confidence. An increased understanding enables future choir sessions to be better tailored to patients' needs. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Participating in the choir was felt to offer an increased opportunity for functional therapy goals in an inpatient setting. The MDT frequently discussed the choir's ability to 'normalise' therapeutic approaches for the patients. A greater understanding of the choir participants empowers therapists to personalise therapy plans further, facilitating effectiveness, efficiency and holistic practice.