Effect of Communication Partner Training Program for the Management of Persons With Aphasia

Communication Partner Training (CPT) is an evidence-based intervention that teaches communication partners (e.g., family members, friends, healthcare workers) how to best support conversation and interaction for a person with aphasia. It does not matter how mild or severe a person's aphasia is, they can be a good candidate for CPT as long as their communication partner is motivated and willing to adapt their communication style. The objective of this study is to see the effects of communication partner training for the management of persons with aphasia. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. In total, 6 dyads will be randomly assigned to the intervention (CPT program) or usual care (control) group. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V 25. will be used for Data analysis. Results will be extracted. Conclusion will be made after comparing the pre and post treatment results on person with aphasia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Aphasia
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Communication Partner Training; Other: Usual Speech and language Therapy

Detailed Description

Communication Partner Training (CPT) is an evidence-based intervention that teaches communication partners (e.g., family members, friends, healthcare workers) how to best support conversation and interaction for a person with aphasia. It does not matter how mild or severe a person's aphasia is, they can be a good candidate for CPT as long as their communication partner is motivated and willing to adapt their communication style. The objective of this study is to see the effects of communication partner training for the management of persons with aphasia. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. In total, 6 dyads will be randomly assigned to the intervention (CPT program) or usual care (control) group. The intervention group received usual care in addition to a CPT program, which consisted of face-to-face education and counselling sessions, a manual and telephone support. Data will be collected at baseline, three months, and six months. The main outcome for caregivers will be using appropriate conversational skills that will be measured by the Conversational Skills Rating Scale (CSRS). Secondary outcomes for patients will be health-related quality of life that will be measured by the Quality of Life (QOL) Scale. To see the effective communication between patient and communication partner, Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI) will be used.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, 54000
      • Riphah Rehabilitation Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• The participant's aphasia must be caused by stroke and to have occurred at least 12 months before the study takes place.
• The participant's aphasia could be of all degrees of severity (clinically assessed as mild, moderate, or severe on GCS).
• The participants with aphasia are required to be 18 years or older, living at home or planned to live at home after rehabilitation, and have no other speech or language impairments (such as severe dysarthria)
• Others have to communicate with the person with aphasia on a regular basis (at least once a week).

Exclusion Criteria:

The participants will be excluded if the persons with aphasia:

• Are diagnosed with dementia or any other known significant cognitive impairment.
• Have significant hearing or vision problems.
• Have known alcohol or drug abuse.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental; Communication Partner Training:The group will receive usual care in addition to a CPT program, which will consist of face-to-face education and counselling sessions, a manual and telephone support.	Behavioral: Communication Partner Training; This intervention aims to improve the language, communication, participation and overall quality of life of the Person with Aphasia.
Active Comparator: Comparison Group; This group will receive usual speech therapy sessions.	Other: Usual Speech and language Therapy; This group will receive usual speech and language therapy session.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Conversational Skills	Enhanced Communication skills in terms of attentiveness, expressiveness, coordination and composure. Skills ranging from Inadequate (1) to Excellent (5).	6 Months
Quality of communication life	Increased quality of communication life on quality of communication life scale , higher rating showing more positivity.	6 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fazaila Ehsan, PhD*, Riphah International University; Study Director: Nazia Mumtaz, PhD, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Simmons-Mackie N, Raymer A, Armstrong E, Holland A, Cherney LR. Communication partner training in aphasia: a systematic review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Dec;91(12):1814-37. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.08.026.
• Lock S, Wilkinson R, Bryan K, Maxim J, Edmundson A, Bruce C, Moir D. Supporting Partners of People with Aphasia in Relationships and Cconversation (SPPARC). Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2001;36 Suppl:25-30. doi: 10.3109/13682820109177853.
• Kagan A, Black SE, Duchan FJ, Simmons-Mackie N, Square P. Training volunteers as conversation partners using "Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia" (SCA): a controlled trial. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2001 Jun;44(3):624-38. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2001/051).
• Chang HF, Power E, O'Halloran R, Foster A. Stroke communication partner training: a national survey of 122 clinicians on current practice patterns and perceived implementation barriers and facilitators. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2018 Nov;53(6):1094-1109. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12421. Epub 2018 Aug 27.
• Croteau C, McMahon-Morin P, Le Dorze G, Baril G. Impact of aphasia on communication in couples. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2020 Jul;55(4):547-557. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12537. Epub 2020 May 13.
• Johansson MB, Carlsson M, Sonnander K. Communication difficulties and the use of communication strategies: from the perspective of individuals with aphasia. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2012 Mar-Apr;47(2):144-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00089.x. Epub 2011 Oct 25.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 5, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 29, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 4, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 7, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 20, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Aphasia; Post Stroke; Communication Partner Training
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Communication Disorders; Language Disorders; Speech Disorders; Aphasia
• Other Study ID Numbers: REC/LHR/21/1110 Fazaila Ehsan

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No