What do people with aphasia want in rehabilitation? Designing diagnostic materials that occupational therapists can use to assess the needs, values and preferences of people with aphasia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Client-centred care and shared decision making are prevailing principles in healthcare. For people with aphasia (PWA) this is difficult. There is a need for diagnostic instruments that are accessible for PWA and capture their needs, values and preferences (NV&P) for rehabilitation. Aims This paper reports on a collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs), PWA and speech language therapists that aimed to investigate current barriers and facilitators that OTs experience in assessing the client’s NV&P and create and evaluate supportive tools to enable OTs to help PWA in formulating their NV&P. Methods The research consisted of two phases. Phase one: qualitative research was conducted with semi-structured interviews with OTs about their current approach and their needs in assessing clients’ NV&P. The interviews were transcribed, coded and themes were identified. Phase two: tools for the in-patient setting were developed together with PWA, based on the analysis from the first phase. These tools were piloted, and feedback groups were held, in order to further refine the materials. Results Results from interviews showed that there is a need for instruments to assess the clients’ NV&P for in-patient and out-patient settings. The clinical phase focusses on activities of daily living. In the out-patient phase the focus is on daily activities. For the clinical phase, a set of 55 photos in 8 categories was developed, with which the patient’s NV&P can be determined. Conclusion OTs need tools to support their conversation with PWA about their NV&P. In collaboration with OTs and PWA tools were developed.