Person-centered care (PCC) is a critical approach in healthcare that places the perspectives of individuals, families, and communities at the center of service delivery. For children with aphasia, a communication disorder that affects their ability to use and understand language, PCC can be particularly challenging but also highly rewarding. This blog will explore evidence-based strategies from the research article "Person-centered care for people with aphasia: tools for shared decision-making" to help practitioners improve their skills and create better outcomes for children with aphasia.
Understanding Aphasia and Its Impact on PCC
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder often caused by stroke or brain injury. It can significantly impact a child's ability to participate in their own care, making shared decision-making (SDM) essential yet challenging. Practitioners need to recognize the unique communication needs of each child to effectively implement PCC.
Key Strategies for Practitioners
- Communication Partner Training (CPT): CPT involves training communication partners, such as family members and healthcare providers, to use tools and strategies that support comprehension and expression. Supported Conversation for Aphasia (SCA) is a specific CPT approach that uses tools to aid comprehension, expression, and verification.
- Communication Plans: A communication plan is a summary of a child's communication abilities and preferred strategies. It should be co-created with the child and relevant practitioners, including Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs).
- Shared Decision-Making Models: Models like the three-talk model (choice talk, option talk, and decision talk) help structure discussions about decisions, ensuring that the child and their caregivers are actively involved.
- Accessible Goal-Setting: Collaborative goal-setting techniques, such as Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), can be adapted to support children with aphasia. These techniques improve engagement, motivation, and adherence to treatment plans.
Practical Implementation Tips
- Start with Training: Participate in supported communication training, ideally with a team of practitioners to create a group of communication champions.
- Regular Meetings: Use formats like journal clubs or grand rounds to discuss communication issues and share successes.
- Policy Integration: Incorporate aspects of shared decision-making into policies related to admission, consent, and discharge planning.
- Student Training: Ensure that students in health and social services receive training in supported communication and shared decision-making.
Implementing these strategies can significantly improve the quality of care for children with aphasia, making them active participants in their own healthcare. For more detailed information, practitioners are encouraged to read the original research paper.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Person-centered care for people with aphasia: tools for shared decision-making.
