the APT project is a new research study, funded by the NIHR, which aims to develop a new communication partner training programme to help people with aphasia and their families communicate better in their everyday lives. Our ambition is for this training to be made available on the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. the APT project is breaking new ground, blending together what has been found in previous studies with evidence from psychology on what brings about change in human behaviour, and seeking stakeholder views right from the start of developing a new therapy. We have gathered views from people with aphasia and family members, UK-based Speech and Language Therapists, and international researchers about what to include in Aphasia Partnership Training (APT) and which outcomes are most relevant/ desired. Ideas which gain most consensus across stakeholder groups will shape APT's ongoing development.
Our final survey with speech and language therapists (SLTs) and researchers closed last week, marking the end of data collection with all our key stakeholders for this project.
28 SLTs from around the UK and researchers from several countries across 3 continents took part in our 2nd eDelphi to suggest desired therapy outcomes for people with aphasia and family members receiving Aphasia Partnership Training (APT), and gain consensus on which outcomes are of most interest and which outcomes would they expect most change on.
What’s next?
In the coming months, the APT team will be busy identifying and selecting the most suitable and meaningful outcome measures which align with the outcomes judged as most likely to change by SLTs and researchers, as well as those suggested and rated as most desired by people with aphasia and family members.
Special mentions
We’d like to pause at this important project milestone and applaud the following SLTs and researchers who generously shared their views in at least one of the three rounds in this 2nd eDelphi over the past 3 months:
SLTs:
- Beverley Snowden
- Claire Farrington-Douglas
- Emily Bradley
- Gemma Hoyle
- Jen Thomson
- Kirsty Maguire
- Louise Shelley
- Louise Steer
- Luiza Deaconescu
- Marisa Kilburn-Birse
- Sarah Nelsson
- Sarah Willetts
- Sophie Jenkins
- Susie Williams
Nb. There were more SLTs who completed at least one round but not everyone wanted to be publicly recognized. We respect this and have thanked them privately!
Researchers:
- Ana Došen
- Annette Rotherham
- Caterina Breitenstein
- Charlotta Saldert
- Helene Killmer
- Jytte Isaksen
- Karin Eriksson
- Marie-Christine Hallé
- Monica Blom Johansson
- Roxele Ribeiro Lima
- Sandra Wielaert
- Tatjana Prizl Jakovac
Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our study. We are incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for making this research possible.
Thank you to our participants with lived experience of aphasia who attended our face-to-face discussion groups in London and Derbyshire.
Thank you to all the SLTs and researchers who helped with recruitment, piloted our materials, took part in our eDelphis, or helped facilitate our discussion groups.
What’s ahead in 2023?
We will continue to share information on this website and on our Twitter feed, including news of our publications and findings.
As always, we’d love to hear from you – you can leave a comment below or reach out to us directly by going to the Contact us page.