CHAT- optimising the provision of Speech and language therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can technology optimise a Speech and language therapy service to meet the NICE guidelines for people with aphasia following a stroke in Northern Ireland?
IRAS ID
259466
Contact name
Samantha Harding
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Steps Consulting Ltd
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 2 days
Research summary
There are around 980 stroke survivors each year in Northern Ireland (NI) who have some impairment of speech (aphasia) following a stroke. The NICE guidelines for stroke state that patients should receive speech and language therapy (SLT) aiming at an amount of 45 minutes per day 5 days a week for people who can participate and where functional goals can be achieved. Unfortunately, the Stroke Sentinel National Audit Programme (SSNAP) (2016-2017) annual report shows that patients in NI are only receiving around one third of the amount of therapy that would be expected.
The Health and Wellbeing 2026 Delivering Together Policy and the 2016 Expert Panel Review state that technology uptake and deployment at scale will be required if the health service in Northern Ireland is to transform sufficiently rapidly to survive in the face of known demographic changes and increasing numbers of people surviving and living with the long terms effects of chronic conditions such as stroke.
This study represents phase 2 of a SBRI funded project “CHAT” Optimising Provision of Speech and Language Therapy to meet the NICE guidelines following a stroke. Steps Consulting Ltd (SCL) have developed a novel innovative technology solution based on new therapy Apps and a telehealth service which will be implemented during this feasibility study. An experience based co-design methodology (EBCD) will be used which will enable SLT staff, patients (people with aphasia) and their communication partners to co-design the service (pathways of care) in partnership with SCL.
The study will involve service providers and users from the SLT department in both the Northern and Southern Trusts. The study will last 18 months and involve service users being given the opportunity for more intensive therapy using tailored Apps practised at home where progress in being monitored through a telehealth service.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0286
Date of REC Opinion
9 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion