Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Speech Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Abstract
Background: To enhance the quality of care provided to people suffering from post-stroke aphasia, it is crucial for family caregivers (FCs) to possess a comprehensive understanding of the speech impairments associated with aphasia and to develop appropriate communication skills. This study aimed to examine the effects of an online educational program on the communication effectiveness and communication self-efficacy (CSE) of FCs of people with post-stroke aphasia (PWA).
Methods: This study was a non-randomized clinical trial involving a total of 50 participants, with 25 individuals assigned to each of the control group (CG) and intervention group (IG). FCs were specifically chosen because they were caring for PWA. The intervention involved an online educational program where the researcher taught FCs about aphasia and various methods of communication with PWA.
Data collection involved the use of a demographic information form, the Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI), and the Communication Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software.
Results: The two groups had similar demographics among FCs and PWA, as well as similar communication effectiveness and CSE at baseline. Following the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in relation to communication effectiveness (P < 0.001) and CSE (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The implementation of an online educational program has the potential to improve communication effectiveness and CSE among FCs of PWA. By utilizing this approach, communication between FCs and PWA can be enhanced, ultimately leading to improved care for PWA.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- Fridriksson J, den Ouden DB, Hillis AE, Hickok G, Rorden C, Basilakos A, et al. Anatomy of aphasia revisited. Brain 2018; 141(3): 848-62.
- Lazar RM, Boehme AK. Aphasia As a Predictor of Stroke Outcome. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2017; 17(11): 83.
- Engelter ST, Gostynski M, Papa S, Frei M, Born C, Ajdacic-Gross V, et al. Epidemiology of aphasia attributable to first ischemic stroke: incidence, severity, fluency, etiology, and thrombolysis. Stroke 2006; 37(6): 1379-84.
- Grawburg M, Howe T, Worrall L, Scarinci N. Third-party disability in family members of people with aphasia: A systematic review. Disabil Rehabil 2013; 35(16): 1324-41.
- Tatsumi H, Nakaaki S, Satoh M, Yamamoto M, Chino N, Hadano K. Relationships among Communication Self-Efficacy, Communication Burden, and the Mental Health of the Families of Persons with Aphasia. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2016; 25(1): 197-205.
- Grawburg M, Howe T, Worrall L, Scarinci N. Describing the impact of aphasia on close family members using the ICF framework. Disabil Rehabil 2014; 36(14): 1184-95.
- Le Dorze G, Signori FH. Needs, barriers and facilitators experienced by spouses of people with aphasia. Disabil Rehabil 2010; 32(13): 1073-87.
- Tatsumi H, Yamamoto M, Nakaaki S, Hadano K. Development of Communication Self-Efficacy Scale for caregivers of adults with aphasia. High Brain Funct Res 2012; 32(3): 514-24.
- Lomas J, Pickard L, Bester S, Elbard H, Finlayson A, Zoghaib C. The communicative effectiveness index: development and psychometric evaluation of a functional communication measure for adult aphasia. J Speech Hear Disord 1989; 54(1): 113-24.
- Dalemans RJ, de Witte L, Wade D, van den Heuvel W. Social participation through the eyes of people with aphasia. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2010; 45(5): 537-50.
- Magnus BH, Dias RF, Beber BC. Effects of a short educational program about aphasia (SEPA) on the burden and quality of life of family caregivers of people with aphasia. Codas 2019; 31(4): e20180218.
- Hodis GM, Hodis FA. Trends in communicative self-efficacy: A comparative analysis. Basic Commun Course Annu 2012; 24(1).
- Bandura A. Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychol Rev 1977; 84(2): 191-215.
- Melvin S. Development of a training session for caregivers of persons with Aphasia: A pilot study [Thesis]. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University; 2017.
- Jokel R, Meltzer J, D RJ, D ML, J CJ, A NE, et al. Group intervention for individuals with primary progressive aphasia and their spouses: Who comes first? J Commun Disord 2017; 66: 51-64.
- Park H-J, Chang H-J. Effects of Communication Improvement on Caregivers Education and Training on Aphasia. Ther Sci Rehabil 2019; 8(2): 79-88.
- Kroll A, Karakiewicz B. Do caregivers' personality and emotional intelligence modify their perception of relationship and communication with people with aphasia? Int J Lang Commun Disord 2020; 55(5): 661-77.
- ATTEND Collaborative Group. Family-led rehabilitation after stroke in India (ATTEND): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2017; 390(10094): 588-99.
- Berry CA. Effectiveness of communication partner training program for employees working with persons with aphasia [Thesis]. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University; 2018.
- Simmons-Mackie N, Raymer A, Cherney LR. Communication Partner Training in Aphasia: An Updated Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2016; 97(12): 2202-21.e8.
- Flamand-Roze C, Falissard B, Roze E, Maintigneux L, Beziz J, Chacon A, et al. Validation of a new language screening tool for patients with acute stroke: the Language Screening Test (LAST). Stroke 2011; 42(5): 1224-9.
- Shkeri N, Faal Fard H, Piran SA, Tahmasian H, Tajaddod M, Jalaei S. Review of post-stroke Aphasia Screening Tests. Mod Rehabil 2014; 8(3): 10-20.
- Mousavi SZ, Jafari R, Maroufizadeh S, Shahramnia MM, Pourmohammadi M, Jalilehvand N. Validity and Reliability of the Persian Version of Language Screening Test (LAST) for Patients in the Acute Phase of Stroke. Func Disabil J 2020; 3(1): 91-100.
- Brydges CR. Effect Size Guidelines, Sample Size Calculations, and Statistical Power in Gerontology. Innov Aging 2019; 3(4): igz036.
- Purdy M, Hindenlang J. Educating and training caregivers of persons with aphasia. Aphasiology 2005; 19(3-5): 377-88.
- Johansson MB. Aphasia and communication in everyday life: Experiences of persons with aphasia, significant others, and speech-language pathologists [Dissertation]. Uppsala, Sweden: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis; 2012.
- Zhang S, Edwards H, Yates P, Li C, Guo Q. Self-efficacy partially mediates between social support and health-related quality of life in family caregivers for dementia patients in Shanghai. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2014; 37(1-2): 34-44.
- Hinckley JJ, Packard ME. Family education seminars and social functioning of adults with chronic aphasia. J Commun Disord 2001; 34(3): 241-54.
- Palmer R, Hilari K, Magdalani C, Coster J, Beeke S, Gibbs E, et al. Aphasia partnership training: What outcomes do people with aphasia, family members and speech and language therapists expect? Int J Lang Commun Disord 2025; 60(2): e70015.
- Shafer JS, Shafer PR, Haley KL. Caregivers navigating rehabilitative care for people with aphasia after stroke: a multi-lens perspective. Int J Lang Commun Disord 2019; 54(4): 634-44.
)