Supporting wellbeing through peer-befriending (SUPERB) for people with aphasia: A feasibility randomised controlled trial. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hilari, Katerina; Behn, Nicholas; James, Kirsty; Northcott, Sarah; Marshall, Jane; Thomas, Shirley; Simpson, Alan; Moss, Becky; Flood, Chris; McVicker, Sally; Goldsmith, Kimberley
• Is Part Of: Clinical rehabilitation. Volume 35:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1151
• Page End: 1163
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Feasibility study -- peer-befriending -- aphasia -- mood; Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215521995671
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2155

Abstract

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of peer-befriending, for people with aphasia. Design: Single-blind, parallel-group feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing usual care to usual care + peer-befriending. Participants and setting: People with aphasia post-stroke and low levels of distress, recruited from 5 NHS Hospitals and linked community services; their significant others; and 10 befrienders recruited from community. Intervention: Six 1-hour peer-befriending visits over three months. Main measures: Feasibility parameters included proportion eligible of those screened; proportion consented; missing data; consent and attrition rates. Acceptability was explored through qualitative interviews. Outcomes for participants and significant others were measured at baseline, 4- and 10-months; for peer-befrienders before training and after one/two cycles of befriending. Results: Of 738 patients identified, 75 were eligible of 89 fully screened (84%), 62 consented (83% of eligible) and 56 randomised. Attrition was 16%. Adherence was high (93% attended ⩾2 sessions, 81% all six). The difference at 10 months on the GHQ-12 was 1.23 points on average lower/better in the intervention arm (95% CI 0.17, −2.63). There was an 88% decrease in the odds of GHQ-12 caseness (95% CI 0.01, 1.01). Fourty-eight significant others and 10 peer-befrienders took part. Procedures and outcome measures were acceptable. Serious adverse events were few ( n = 10, none for significant others and peer-befrienders) and unrelated. Conclusions: SUPERB peer-befriending for people with aphasia post-stroke experiencing low levels of distress was feasible. There was preliminary evidence of benefit in terms of depression. Peer-befriending is a suitable intervention to explore further in a definitive trial. Clinical trial registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov Unique identifier: NCT02947776 Subject terms: Translational research, mental health, rehabilitation, quality and outcomes, stroke