APT Programme
Aphasia Partnership Training Programme:
Developing and trialling newtraining to help improve communication between people with aphasia and their partners.
The Aphasia Partnership Training programme (APT) is funded by an NIHR Programme Development Grant, and sponsored by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It will be jointly led by Professor Rebecca Palmer from the University of Sheffield and Professor Madeline Cruice from City St George’s, University of London.
APT plans to co-design and evaluate a novel Communication Partner Training programme for people with aphasia and their communication partners. The Sheffield CTRU will lead a randomised controlled trial in approximately 30 NHS speech and language therapy services.
Background
Approximately 40% of stroke survivors have the communication disorder ‘aphasia’ making it difficult to talk, understand what others say, read, and write. People with aphasia and their communication partners (family, friends, paid carers) cannot understand and support each other, leading to communication breakdown, frustration, distress, isolation and unhappiness for both people.
Communication Partner Training aims to improve communication between individuals with aphasia and their communication partners. Several small studies suggest that this can help, although better evidence is needed to confirm its effectiveness. Additionally, it has not been described in enough detail for speech and language therapists to provide it. Existing research and patient group discussions highlight that not many NHS patients and partners are offered this training.
Research aims
Develop a new Communication Partner Training programme and manual for NHS delivery to people with aphasia and their communication partners living in the community, in a programme called Aphasia Partnership Training (APT)
Evaluate APT and its value for money
Understand and develop resources to support the UK-wide NHS delivery of APT
Design and methods:
Survey speech and language therapists nationally to understand what affects the NHS provision of Communication Partner Training.
Collaboratively design a manual and learning package detailing how to deliver APT.
Run a randomised clinical trial on APT with approximately 30 UK NHS Trusts that will randomly allocate 336 people with aphasia and their partners to receive APT and usual speech and language therapy, or usual therapy alone, to determine whether APT benefits people and is financially viable.
Patient and public involvement:
A PPI group of 10 diverse individuals with aphasia and communication partners worked closely with the study team throughout a Programme Development Grant awarded in 2021, and were involved with preparing the Research Programme Grant application. The group will continue to provide support and guidance to the study team on all aspects of the research.
Project Leadership Group:
- PLG
Name Role Organisation Email Prof Rebecca Palmer Prof Madeline Cruice Dr Suzanne Beeke Prof Ian Kellar Emma Gibbs Dr Jo Coster Prof Katerina Hilari Munya Dimairo Prof Emma Power Dr Madeleine Harrison Prof Nan Greenwood Dr Sharon Adjei-Nicol Katie Biggs Tracey Young Kate Sudworth Elaine Scott Sarah Wilkinson Marni Owen Analisa Pais Natascha Ullrich Sienna Hamer-Kiwacz Ann George
Contact:
You can email the team at:
apt-programme@sheffield.ac.uk