Practitioners' Perspectives on Quality of Life in Aphasia Rehabilitation in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE

This study reports on Danish speech and language therapists' knowledge and understanding of quality of life (QoL) in aphasia, including therapists' views on education and training in relation to preparedness for working on QoL, use of measures, and barriers to applying QoL in practice.

METHODS

Fourteen Danish clinicians completed a 48-item online questionnaire regarding their views, perspectives and practices that included multiple-choice questions, rating scales, and boxes permitting free text responses. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the numerical data, and content analysis was applied to text responses.

RESULTS

The clinicians interpreted QoL as subjective well-being and participation and explored it with most clients and relatives using informal methods, primarily conversation, for the purposes of identifying relevant goals to direct treatment. Clinicians perceived a need for greater theoretical, practical, and experiential knowledge regarding QoL. They also identified a need for translated QoL instruments and training in these measures in practice.

CONCLUSION

Despite a reported lack of knowledge about and tools for measuring QoL, Danish clinicians are applying QoL issues in their practice and perceive these issues as valuable and important in assessment and therapy. The findings have clear implications for tool development and workforce education.