What is the effect of a counselling training module on speech pathologists’ self­-efficacy and self-­report of competence for counselling in post­-stroke aphasia? A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.

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Aphasia, an acquired language disorder affecting everyday communication, most commonly occurs after stroke with an incidence of approximately 30% of stroke survivors. Aphasia is associated with poor mental health with a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in both stroke survivors and their families. Speech pathology services include the provision of informational and personal adjustment counselling with regard to communication disorders. Speech pathologists frequently report providing counselling to support the psychological wellbeing in this client group but the majority report low knowledge, skills, confidence, and satisfaction in this practice (Rose et al, 2014). A systematic review of counselling training for speech pathologists working with people affected by post­stroke aphasia found that prequalification counseling training is variable and limited with some speech pathology training courses not offering any. Where offered, counselling training for working in post­stroke aphasia is limited to less than three hours of counselling observation, coursework, and practicum. After qualification, speech pathologists seek a wide range of counselling training and approaches from external sources ranging from short courses to doctorates in counselling and psychology in an array of approaches including in motivational interviewing, solution-focused brief training, narrative therapy, and basic counselling skills (Sekhon, Oates, Kneebone & Rose, 2019). Some stroke services provide low­level training (by clinical psychologists) to support the psychological needs of stroke survivors. This can include, for example, person centered, solution-focused, and problem-solving approaches. However, a majority of these studies are of low quality with a variety of outcomes and unvalidated measures (checklists) used in evaluating counseling training. Counselling training (of one day or more) is significantly and positively associated with speech pathologists' self­reported confidence and competence in counselling for managing psychological concerns in stroke survivors with aphasia and their carers (Sekhon, Oates, Kneebone & Rose, 2019). Research questions: 1) What is the effect of an online counselling training module for supporting psychological wellbeing (IV) on a) speech pathologists’ self-efficacy (DV) for counselling in post-stroke aphasia? b) speech pathologists’ self-reported confidence (DV) for 8 counselling skills (including self-reported competence for counselling) relevant in post-stroke aphasia? 2) Are effects of the training maintained at 4-weeks post-training? If this training module is effective, speech pathologists who feel they have low knowledge, skills, or confidence in supporting psychological wellbeing in post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation may gain confidence and self-efficacy from undertaking this training.

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