Yarning together: incorporating telehealth into the provision of culturally secure speech pathology services for Aboriginal Australians after brain injury.
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Date
2021-02-27
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Affiliation(s)
(Ciccone, Armstrong, Hersh, McAllister, Godecke, Walley) School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
(Adams) Health InfoNet, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
(Bessarab) Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
(Coffin) Telethon Kids Institute, Australia
(Adams) Health InfoNet, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
(Bessarab) Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
(Coffin) Telethon Kids Institute, Australia
Year
2020
Citation
Brain Impairment. Conference: 43rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, ASSBI 2020. Perth, WA United States. Vol.21(SUPPL 3), 2020, pp. 328.
Journal
Brain Impairment
Conference name
43rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment, ASSBI 2020
Conference location
Perth, WA, Australia
Grant information
This work is funded by the Lowitja Institute.
Abstract
Background and objectives: Stroke and traumatic brain injury are more common in Aboriginal Australians than their non-Aboriginal counterparts, yet knowledge surrounding what Aboriginal Australians view as a culturally secure rehabilitation service is limited. Our previous research trialled a culturally secure model of rehabilitation which was feasible to deliver and acceptable to Aboriginal people who had an acquired communication disorder (ACD) following a stroke. The model involved the use of yarning principles and an Aboriginal co-worker (ACW) working in conjunction with the speech pathologist (SP). The current project (Lowitja Institute Funding 2018- 2019) extends this previous work by adding a telehealth component and again explores the feasibility and acceptability of the treatment delivered via one of two modes: face to face or using telehealth technology. Method(s): Participants (n = 11), Aboriginal adults with an ACD after stroke or traumatic brain injury (>1 year-18 years post-onset), were case-matched and allocated to one of two groups: face-to-face therapy or therapy utilising telehealth technology and received 16 x 1 h treatment sessions provided twice weekly. Therapy integrated a yarning framework and was provided jointly by a SP and ACW in the person's place of residence. Feasibility was measured by analysing the number of sessions conducted jointly by the SP and ACW and participant attendance. Improvement in the participants' communication skills were measured through change in verbal output within language samples collected at multiple time points. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore both the participants' perspectives and the ACW's and SP's perceptions on the acceptability of and change achieved through the therapy. All interviews were analysed through qualitative descriptive analysis. Result(s): Across all sessions, 235/258 (91.1%) were attended by the ACW and SP and 10 of the 11 participants completed all prescribed sessions. Positive feedback was provided by participants, the ACW and SPs on the key components of the programme including the use of telehealth technology. Conclusion(s): The findings from this study provide direction for rehabilitation therapists who provide services to Aboriginal people to improve quality of care and provide culturally secure services. This work demonstrates that therapy can be delivered remotely by a SP but that an ACW being physically present is an important part of this rehabilitation approach.
PubMed ID
Type
Conference Abstract
Study type
Qualitative study
Subjects
Neurology
Speech pathology
Speech pathology