Exploration of frequent needs and desires of patients with Broca’s aphasia according to nurses, neurologists, family caregivers, and patients in Iran: a qualitative content analysis

Introduction Broca’s aphasia is a non-fluent language disorder that impairs individuals’ ability to speak and write, with speech and writing typically being more impaired than comprehension of spoken language. This impairment can adversely affect patients’ social interactions, independence, and emotional well-being, potentially leaving many needs and desires unmet. Considering that communication is central to human interaction, this study aimed to explore the experiences of key stakeholders and to identify and categorize the major needs and challenges of individuals with Broca’s aphasia in Iran, many of which may remain unaddressed due to communication barriers.Methods A qualitative descriptive design was used, following the approach outlined by Sandelowski (2000). In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with neurologists, nurses working in neurology wards, family caregivers, and individuals living with Broca’s aphasia. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected until saturation was reached and analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’s conventional content analysis approach, with the assistance of MAXQDA software. The framework used by Krishnan et al. (2017) was adopted to guide the initial categorization of the data.Results Analysis of 18 interviews identified four main categories of patients’ needs. The first three categories (body functional needs, activity and participation needs, and environmental needs) were consistent with this framework, while the findings revealed an additional category encompassing spiritual and cultural needs, thereby broadening the framework and highlighting dimensions of patients’ needs that may be particularly relevant in the Iranian sociocultural context.Conclusions The study highlighted that difficulties in effective communication can influence the expression and recognition of patients’ needs, emphasizing the central role of communication in post-stroke care. Identifying and categorizing the unmet needs of individuals with Broca’s aphasia, particularly their spiritual and cultural needs in the Iranian context, is crucial. Enabling healthcare professionals and family caregivers to recognize these needs can enhance interactions and facilitate more person-centered care. A deeper understanding of these multifaceted communicative and sociocultural challenges may reduce social isolation, improve quality of life, address unmet needs, and support more effective rehabilitation planning.