CHAT phase 3 0ptimising the provision of Speech & Language Therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
CHAT phase 3: 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
323805
Contact name
Samantha Harding
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Steps Consulting Ltd
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 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 intensive speech and language therapy (SLT). Unfortunately, the Stroke Sentinel National Audit Programme annual report (2016-2017) shows that patients in NI are only receiving around one third of the amount of therapy that would be expected.
Steps Consulting Ltd have developed a novel innovative technology solution in response to a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI). The CHAT project aims to use technology to optimise the speech and language therapy services for people with aphasia. Phase 2 involved a feasibility trial of the solution which was successfully completed in March 2022.
This study represents phase 3 of the SBRI CHAT process. It will involve a service evaluation involving service providers (SLT and other healthcare professionals), service users (patients with aphasia) and their communicative partners (public) recruited from 3 Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCT). We aim to find out if this approach is an acceptable and effective way to provide more intensive therapy and improve the outcomes for patients with aphasia (PWA).
An experience-based co-design methodology will be used which will enable service providers, service users (people with aphasia) and their communication partners to co-design the service in partnership with SCL. This with enable rapid learning using real world data, to quickly identify and hopefully solve issues as they arise, to refine the service in successive learning cycles as well as being able to share knowledge between the 3 Trusts.
36 participants (PWA) will be recruited from the 3 Trusts. Each participant will have the opportunity to supplement usual care with personalised tailored therapy Apps practised at home with progress monitored through the telehealth service.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0093
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion