Piloting the transfer of an individual biographic-narrative intervention into a teletherapeutic setting: a feasibility study

Background People with aphasia (PWA) often experience a significant reduction in their quality of life (QoL). The biographic-narrative approach (narraktiv) with group and individual sessions can significantly improve QoL of PWA. Aphasia-friendly teletherapy can help to overcome geographical and structural barriers to such services.Aim This paper presents the debut of the biographic-narrative intervention in a teletherapeutic setting. It aims not only to examine the feasibility, usability and acceptability of the teletherapeutic platform “TELL”, but also to evaluate the biographic-narrative intervention in and of itself. Furthermore, the paper assesses preliminary effectiveness of the intervention regarding QoL.Methods & Procedures This feasibility study follows a pre-post design. It presents the results of a five-session therapy conducted with each of six PWA based on the narraktiv protocol. In the post-test, an ad hoc questionnaire as well as semi-structured interviews were applied to collect data about feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the teletherapeutic setting and about the transfer of narraktiv into this setting. We also made use of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale to gather preliminary results regarding the effectiveness of the intervention. Semi-structured interviews were analysed according to qualitative content analysis. The quantitative results were evaluated using descriptive statistics and by calculating the critical difference of QoL values.Outcomes & Results Findings from semi-structured interviews and the ad hoc questionnaire suggest that the use of the platform “TELL” as well as the teletherapeutic intervention have been feasible. It was further shown that narraktiv can be effective in a teletherapeutic setting for some patients. For two out of six participants, a significant increase in QoL was observed from pre- to post-test.Conclusions This study demonstrates that biographic-narrative work can be conducted remotely and that PWA can benefit from this teletherapeutic approach. In future studies, the complete narraktiv program, including group sessions, should be evaluated in a teletherapeutic setting.