Return to work with post stroke communication disorders (ConQueSt)

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The return to work experiences of people with communication disorders post-stroke: a qualitative study (ConQueSt)

• IRAS ID

  308674

• Contact name

  Emma Coutts

• Contact email

  emma.coutts@nhs.scot

• Sponsor organisation

  NHS Grampian (Research Governance)

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Approximately a quarter of stroke survivors are of working age, and it is well-known that disabilities caused by stroke can lead to difficulties returning to work. In addition to the economic cost, being out of the workplace due to disability has major psychosocial costs for the individual, causing reduced sense of purpose, quality of life, and standard of living. Communication problems (which can affect reading and writing, as well as producing and understanding speech) are not as visible as other stroke-related problems such as a weak arm or difficulties walking. However, they can cause major problems for returning to work because of the importance of communication across a vast range of work activities, for example as a means to engage with colleagues, to share information in order to solve problems and resolve conflicts, and as a means to ensure health and safety. There has been little research into the effects of communication problems on returning to work after a stroke, so we want to explore this issue. Specifically, we want to find out what helps and what hinders people with communication disorders following a stroke when they attempt to return to work; what information and support is most helpful to them; how this information and support should be given and by whom. We aim to do this by interviewing people across NHS Grampian who have the experience of attempting to return to work with post-stroke communication problems. We will then look at all the interviews together and find the common feelings or experiences that the participants mentioned. The findings will be written up and shared widely with professionals and with stroke survivors. The knowledge gained will help us to plan a programme to help people with these problems to return to work.

  Lay summary of study results: Eleven participants (7 male and 4 female, average age 57.7 years old) who had attempted or were attempting to return to work with post-stroke communication disorders were recruited from three Scottish health board areas and interviewed about their experiences. They were an average of 6.55 months following their stroke at the time of interview.

  The experiences and perceptions expressed by the participants were analysed and grouped into five main themes:
  1. The reality of returning to work (initial hopes, fears and expectations; planning; initial return to work)
  2. Barriers to returning to work caused by the stroke impairments (specifically the communication disorders)
  • Barriers to returning to work caused by lack of support from healthcare professionals or employers
  • Personal attributes (e.g. motivation, attitude, use of strategies, awareness of competence) that helped the return to work process
  • Support from personal networks, healthcare professionals, employers and other stroke survivors that helped the return to work process.

  Conclusions
  • There is a lack of specialist and/or joined-up support for people with post-stroke communication disorders
  • Return to work is helped by personal attributes and support networks, the support of individual healthcare professionals, sympathetic employers and colleagues

• REC name

  North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  22/NE/0091

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 May 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion