Perspectives of stammering therapy V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploration of parents’ and children’s perspectives of change following Palin STSC (8-14) stammering therapy.
IRAS ID
357005
Contact name
Sarah Caughter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Whittington Health NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 18 days
Research summary
This is a qualitative research study using semi-structured interviews with children aged 8-14 years and their parents, following a one-year Palin STSC (8-14) therapy programme (individual and group) at the Michael Palin Centre for stammering. The aim is to explore parents’ and children’s perspectives of change following Palin STSC (8-14) therapy in order to:
1. Understand parents’ and children’s perspectives of change following Palin STSC (8-14) therapy.
2. Consider whether constructs previously identified as being associated with stammering impact are perceived to change. Specifically age, temperament, stammering severity, anxiety, resilience and self-stigma.
3. To identify areas of change not currently examined by our clinical assessment protocols.We aim to recruit a total of 10 children and 10-20 parents who have completed a one-year package of Palin STSC(8-14): 5 children and up to 10 parents who attended the intensive group therapy format, and 5 children and up to 10 parents who attended individual family sessions.
Interviews will be transcribed and analysed using Thematic Analysis. This study will provide useful information about the change process in Palin STSC (8-14) from the client’s perspective. It will build on earlier research about change based on previous iterations of MPC therapy, extending that work to include perspectives from parents as well as children, and families who have attended both the individual and group therapy. These perspectives will help us to understand what constitutes important change in therapy for children aged 8-14 and their parents. We will also explore constructs which the research currently tells us are associated with reduced impact of stammering and whether clients who have attended Palin STSC (8-14) identify with them and think that they have changed. This knowledge will inform future work to refine our assessment methods and therapy programmes, as well as our understanding of ‘successful therapy outcomes’.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/0628
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion