Dogs & adjustment of people with post-stroke aphasia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How does dog ownership impact on adjustment and quality of life of people with post-stroke aphasia?
IRAS ID
233264
Contact name
Emma Coutts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Governance Office, NHS Grampian
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
It is well-documented that people with communication problems such as post-stroke aphasia (language processing difficulties) can experience significant social isolation with subsequent reduction in quality of life and possible depression. There is also increasing evidence that pets (specifically dogs) can serve a therapeutic purpose for people with a range of long-term conditions such as dementia and autism. There is currently a paucity of qualitative data linking these two strands: how people with aphasia relate to their dogs as they adapt to their new circumstances; whether and/or how dog ownership enhances well-being and reduces social isolation; whether problems arise in the relationship between the person with aphasia and their dog, or whether practical problems arise with dog ownership as a result of impaired communication. This proposed study endeavours to investigate these questions.
Method
Dog-owning people with post-stroke aphasia and/or their close family members will be recruited through Speech and Language Therapy services in NHS Grampian. Meetings will be arranged and semi-structured interviews carried out by the investigator. These could be with the person with aphasia (using supported conversation techniques) or the family member on their own, or together. The interviews will be transcribed and analysed for themes which are pertinent to the questions posed above.REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0422
Date of REC Opinion
22 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion