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Dias C, Rodrigues IT, Gonçalves H, Duarte I. Communication strategies for adults in palliative care: the speech-language therapists' perspective. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:49. [PMID: 38383383 PMCID: PMC10880300 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01382-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication disorders are a challenge that many patients in palliative care (PC) may encounter. This intervention area is emerging for the speech-language therapist (SLT), the professional who works in preventing, assessing, diagnosing, and treating human communication disorders. This study aims to identify and classify the communication strategies considered most important by SLTs for use in PC and evaluate whether there are any differences in perception regarding the importance of strategies between SLTs with and without PC experience. METHODS This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using a survey, which employed a well-structured, self-completion questionnaire previously validated by a panel of experts with over six years of PC experience. RESULTS The strategies rated as most important within each group were the following: (i) adjust the patient's position and minimise environmental noise; (ii) establish eye contact and adjust the pace of speech; (iii) adjust the language level and raise one topic at a time; (iv) use images of the patient's interests and their personal objects; (v) use orality and multimodal form; (vi) use simplified language and structured pauses; and (vii) use tables with images and books with pictures. CONCLUSIONS Verbal and non-verbal strategies were rated as highly important. There was no evidence of differences in perception in terms of importance between the SLTs with or without experience in PC, but more studies are needed to support this aspect. The patient's communication ability is one of the cornerstones of PC quality. Through their actions, speech-language professionals could empower the patient with strategies so that they can autonomously and self-determinedly express their experiences and most significant needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Dias
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Inês Tello Rodrigues
- Centre for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechcare), Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
- Alcoitão School of Health Sciences (ESSAlcoitão), Alcabideche, Portugal
| | - Hernâni Gonçalves
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centre for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ivone Duarte
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centre for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS@RISE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Msigwa SS, Cheng X. The management of subacute and chronic vascular aphasia: an updated review. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-020-00224-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Post-stroke aphasia (PSA) is an impairment of the generation or comprehension of language due to acute cerebrovascular lesions. Subacute phase span the 7th day to 24 weeks post-onset while > 6 months is termed chronic phase. Language recovery does not arise immediately in chronic PSA, unlike the acute phase. The majority of the treatment modalities in these two PSA phases are still in the infancy stage, facing dilemmas and considered experimental requiring constant updates. Hence, we aimed to upgrade the existing literature regarding available PSA management options, advances, and drawbacks pertaining to subacute and chronic phases.
Main text
In this review, we analyzed the management options for subacute and chronic vascular aphasia. MEDLINE, through PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were explored for English studies by utilizing the terms “stroke aphasia” Plus “vascular aphasia”; 160,753 articles were retrieved. The latest studies, published from 2016 to July 2020, were selected. Article headings and abstracts were analyzed for relevance and filtered; eventually, 92 articles were included in this review. Various management options were extracted as follows: noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS), technology-based therapies, speech-language therapy (SLT), pharmacotherapy, music-based therapies, and psychosocial interventions.
Conclusion
The PSA therapy evolves towards more intense SLT therapy, yet the optimal dosage of the emerging high-intensity therapies is controversial. As spinal and cerebellar NIBS, Telespeech, and E-mental health mark PSA's future, distinct pharmacological options remain a dilemma. Across the continuum of care, PSA–depression comorbidity and inadequate PSA post-discharge education to patient’s families are the significant therapeutic challenges. Future therapeutic mechanisms, optimal dose/timing, and tolerability/safety exploration are obliged.
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Harvey SR, Carragher M, Dickey MW, Pierce JE, Rose ML. Treatment dose in post-stroke aphasia: A systematic scoping review. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2020; 31:1629-1660. [PMID: 32631143 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2020.1786412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about how the amount of treatment a person with aphasia receives impacts aphasia recovery following stroke, yet this information is vital to ensure effective treatments are delivered efficiently. Furthermore, there is no standard dose terminology in the stroke rehabilitation or aphasia literature. This scoping review aims to systematically map the evidence regarding dose in treatments for post-stroke aphasia and to explore how treatment dose is conceptualized, measured and reported in the literature. A comprehensive search was undertaken in June 2019. One hundred and twelve intervention studies were reviewed. Treatment dose (amount of treatment) has been conceptualized as both a measure of time and a count of discrete therapeutic elements. Doses ranged from one to 100 hours, while some studies reported session doses of up to 420 therapeutic inputs per session. Studies employ a wide variety of treatment schedules (i.e., session dose, session frequency, and intervention duration) and the interaction of dose parameters may impact the dose-response relationship. High dose interventions delivered over short periods may improve treatment efficiency while maintaining efficacy. Person- and treatment-level factors that mediate tolerance of high dose interventions require further investigation. Systematic exploration of dose-response relationships in post-stroke aphasia treatment is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam R Harvey
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.,Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Marcella Carragher
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.,Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Michael Walsh Dickey
- Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Bundoora, Australia.,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John E Pierce
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.,Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Bundoora, Australia
| | - Miranda L Rose
- Discipline of Speech Pathology, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.,Centre of Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, Bundoora, Australia
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