SUPERB trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adjustment with aphasia after stroke: Exploring the feasibility of a definitive phase III RCT for SUpporting wellbeing through PEeR Befriending (SUPERB)\n
IRAS ID
209797
Contact name
Katerina Hilari
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
This project aims to find out if peer support can avert some of the adverse psychological consequences of aphasia, the language and communication disorder that affects about 15% of those who have a stroke. Stroke survivors with long-term aphasia will be trained as peer befrienders. They will be paired with individuals with aphasia who have had more recent strokes, e.g. to offer conversation, help with problem solving and social activities. The peer befrienders will start visiting the participants with aphasia soon after they are discharged from hospital and active community therapy is withdrawn; and will visit them 6-8 times.\n\nThe study will use a randomised controlled design. Sixty participants with aphasia will be recruited. All will receive the usual care offered by their Trust; but half (selected randomly) will also receive peer support. Participants will complete questionnaires e.g. on mood, confidence and social activity several times during the study. We aim to find out if those who receive peer support adjust better to life with stroke and aphasia than those who do not. ‘Significant others’, such as spouses, will also complete questionnaires. This will show whether those who are close to stroke survivors also feel the benefits of peer support. We will interview participants and significant others to gain insight into their experiences, and the personal significance of any changes. We will also calculate the costs of usual care and peer support (economic evaluation), to see what is the added value of peer support. Finally, we will explore the possible benefits for those who provide peer support, i.e. the peer befrienders, by interviewing them and testing their wellbeing and feelings of self-efficacy.\n
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1977
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion