What do speech-language pathologists describe as most important when trying to achieve client participation during aphasia rehabilitation? A qualitative focus group interview study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate what speech-language pathologists describe as most important when trying to achieve client-oriented participation during aphasia rehabilitation. Method: A qualitative study including semi-structured focus group interviews with 11 speech-language pathologists. Interviews were analysed with the use of systematic text condensation. Result: Four main themes emerged from the analysis. (1) It is important to take the vulnerability of the client group into account. (2) It is important to address the client's process of realisation by navigating around unrealistic wishes and goals. (3) It is challenging to involve clients when the evidence-base for clinical practice is limited. (4) It is crucial to make therapy meaningful to the client.
Conclusion: This study showed that speech-language pathologists perceived prediction of a clinical course in aphasia rehabilitation as challenging due to the vulnerable client group and the perceived need to guide the clients through the rehabilitation process. They talked about how unrealistic client goals, and the lack of a solid evidence-base to guide their clinical practice, made collaborative goal setting and treatment planning challenging. Due to these barriers, the speech-language pathologists struggled to achieve client participation, and thereby aphasia rehabilitation could not be described as fully client-oriented.