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ERIC Number: EJ1478069
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jul
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1368-2822
EISSN: EISSN-1460-6984
Available Date: 2025-07-03
Speech and Language Therapy Weekend Service in Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Study Exploring Perspectives of People with Stroke
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, v60 n4 e70077 2025
Background: An allied health weekend service in subacute inpatient stroke rehabilitation can improve patient and organisational outcomes. However, there is insufficient evidence to justify the role of a speech and language therapy (SLT) weekend service in this setting. Exploring the perspectives of individuals who have received SLT services in inpatient stroke rehabilitation will assist with understanding the current role of SLT and the potential for SLT weekend services in inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Aims: This study aimed to: (1) determine the aspects of an SLT inpatient rehabilitation service that are perceived to be important to people with stroke who have an acquired communication and/or swallowing impairment, and (2) establish which of these valued aspects are also relevant to the provision of an SLT weekend service. Methods and Procedures: A generic qualitative approach was employed. Adults admitted to inpatient rehabilitation for a minimum 2-week stay, including two weekends, and who engaged in communication and/or swallowing-related rehabilitation were invited to participate in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Interview data were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Outcomes and Results: Six people with stroke were interviewed. Two main themes informed participants' perspectives of important aspects of inpatient rehabilitation: (1) 'recovering from my stroke' which described factors relating to the patients' participation in their rehabilitation program and their therapy progress, and (2) 'supporting my wellbeing' which reflected the value of social connections, feeling supported by staff, dedicated rest periods, and engagement in meaningful activities outside of scheduled therapy sessions. Although some participants supported the idea of an SLT weekend service to receive additional therapy, weekends were also perceived as important to support wellbeing by participating in activities that were not directly part of their rehabilitation program. Conclusions and Implications: Weekends were perceived to provide both the opportunity for additional therapy and to facilitate valued experiences that went beyond participation in the rehabilitation program. These experiences included rest, maintaining or developing social connections and engagement in social-based activities. This study's findings have important implications for the development of an SLT weekend service in inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Discipline of Speech Pathology, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia; 2Speech Pathology Department, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; 3Centre of Research Excellence for Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia