UQ Research Speech Pathologist Hannah Wedley leading a telehealth consultation with a study participant during an earlier TeleCHAT trial.
(Photo credit: The University of Queensland. )
Key points
- An online treatment program has shown early promise in improving quality of life for aphasia patients living in remote parts of Queensland.
- The TeleCHAT Implementation Study is evaluating whether it is possible to deliver a high-quality therapy program via video call.
- Researchers say the study has received positive feedback so far, with participants reporting improvements in their communication and confidence.
An online therapy program has shown early promise in improving quality of life for people living with communication disorder aphasia in remote parts of Queensland.
University of Queensland researchers have launched the TeleCHAT Implementation Study - a Comprehensive High-dose Aphasia Treatment (CHAT) program delivered via telehealth - to remove the burden of long-distance travel for patients in rural or remote areas.
The study is in partnership with the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), at Metro North Health, and is delivered by health professionals within the Herston Health Precinct.
Dr Jade Dignam , from UQ's Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC), said about 15 patients with post-stroke aphasia across Queensland will be recruited to take part in the study.
"This study will evaluate an 8-week specialised intensive rehabilitation program, delivered to a cohort of participants, over a 12-month period," Dr Dignam said.
"Patients living in remote areas face great barriers in accessing treatment, and we want to address these health inequities.
"We've had 3 participants - including one who lives in a rural town, and an 8 hour-drive from the closest medical centre - complete 50 hours of therapy in our first treatment block of the study.
"There's been a great response so far, with all participants reporting high satisfaction with the virtual service, and improvements in their communication and confidence.
"We use a number of measures to assess improvements including a participant satisfaction survey post treatment and a test measuring language ability."
The study will evaluate the integration of TeleCHAT into Queensland Health services and whether it is possible to deliver the treatment program via video call.
"All therapies have been successfully adapted to be delivered online, and all participants were able to complete their care virtually, which is very encouraging," Dr Dignam said.
Aphasia is a devastating communication disorder impacting a person's ability to talk, understand others speaking to them, and to read and write.
"It is common in stroke survivors, and can occur after a brain injury, from a brain tumour or as part of dementia," Dr Dignam said.
"While it does not impact intelligence, it can affect almost every part of life."
Data shows one in 4 people globally will have a stroke in their lifetime and about one in 3 of these will be diagnosed with aphasia. Globally, the condition affects millions.
"We also know that people with aphasia experience the poorest quality of life ahead of all other common health disorders, including dementia, cancer and Parkinson's disease," Dr Dignam said.
The study builds on the work of 2 previous projects trialled at QARC, including the evaluation of the Feasibility of delivering TeleCHAT study for aphasia patients between 2021-2023.
"In our pilot work published late last year, about 90 per cent of CHAT participants made improvements in communication, confidence and quality of life and many people with aphasia were able to return to work and/or volunteering because of the skills they developed in therapy," Dr Dignam said.
"The impacts of treatment can be far reaching."
Collaboration and acknowledgements
The project is in partnership with the Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS), at Metro North Health.
The research was made possible through a philanthropic donation from the Bowness Family Foundation.
