Understanding the Care Needs of People With Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Qualitative Study of Stroke Care Transitions

Communication difficulties experienced by people with aphasia (PWA) cause disconnects between meaningful conversations and care received. The purpose of this study was to identify concepts PWA define as (1) the most critical facilitators to transitional care and communicative access success, and (2) transitional care and communicative barriers. A qualitative descriptive study design was utilized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six PWA and two communication partners and analyzed using directed content analysis, guided by the theory of Human Scale Development. Findings revealed that barriers and facilitators centered on three Needs: (1) Participation: Participation in life events was directly related to public understanding of aphasia; (2) Protection: Healthcare services failed to provide necessary care, and participants relied on themselves to gain access to healthcare; and (3) Understanding: Healthcare conversations were described as one-sided, with successful healthcare interactions being mediated by empathic responses. Results identified how successful navigation of stroke care for PWA are complex and multifaceted processes. Findings affirm the importance of effective communication in healthcare. Participants call to action the need for healthcare professionals to be better educated on accessible communicative strategies.