Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that conversation training can aid communication for adults with aphasia. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a conversation training course delivered to a General Practitioner (GP) in New Zealand in order to determine whether a trained GP could facilitate participation and increase communication access within a simulated GP consultation. A single case pilot study was used with the GP taking part in a pre-training simulated GP consultation (with a person with aphasia) followed by a modified Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA) conversation course. This was followed by a post-training simulated GP consultation (with a person with aphasia). The qualitative data obtained from the pre- and post-training consultations were analysed and compared using conversational performance measures, and a post-training questionnaire was completed by the GP. The results of the study provide support for the effectiveness of conversation training for a GP when consulting with a person with aphasia. Following training the GP increased the use of facilitative communication strategies to provide information to the person with aphasia and ascertain her medical concern. This, in turn, resulted in an increase in the person with aphasia’s participation in the consultation. The results provide motivation for increasing communication access and participation during GP consultations to a larger aphasia community. Incorporation of conversation training into NZ’s GP continuing medical education (CME) or medical curriculum could facilitate communication access and participation nationwide.
