Priorities for post-stroke aphasia service development: Prioritisation phase of an experience-based co-design study

ObjectivePost-stroke aphasia (language impairment) has a devastating impact on quality of life and people with aphasia experience long-term unmet needs. A shared understanding of the experiences underpinning these unmet needs is required to identify priorities for improvement. Establishing priorities for meaningful service improvement requires involvement of service users and providers. Therefore, this research aimed to: (1) collaboratively identify priorities for aphasia service improvement according to people with aphasia, significant others, speech pathologists, and (2) co-design a plan for service development and improvement.DesignPrioritisation phase of an experience-based co-design project. Online surveys were used to prioritise ideas (<i>n</i> = 773). Three multi-stakeholder consensus groups were held to shortlist top priorities. Design principles were applied during three consecutive co-design workshops, to develop a concept design targeting the top priority.Participants, settingPeople with aphasia (<i>n</i> = 41), significant others (<i>n</i> = 35) and speech pathologists (<i>n</i> = 75) across 26 health and hospital sites in remote, regional, and metropolitan Queensland, Australia.ResultsConsensus was established on seven priorities: (1) chart alert system for aphasia, (2) training for healthcare providers in ways to support communication, (3) care that is tailored to the individual, (4) consistent care, (5) equitable access to care, (6) intensive communication therapy options, and (7) mental health service options. A concept design (implementation strategy) was created for the top priority.ConclusionsMulti-stakeholder consensus was gained on seven priorities. Development, implementation, and evaluation of the co-designed concept plan for the top priority may decrease miscommunication in hospital settings and enhance experiences of people with aphasia communicating with healthcare providers.