Meta‐synthesis of family communication patterns during post‐stroke vascular aphasia: Evidence to guide practice

Abstract

Background Previous studies have predominantly focused on the needs of persons with aphasia (PWA), after a stroke diagnosis. However, aphasia is found to cause communication challenges in persons with stroke and their family caregivers as a unit. Evidence is inconclusive about the communication patterns of both persons with aphasia and their family caregivers after a stroke. Studies have not been synthesized on facilitators and barriers of communication patterns between PWA and family caregivers after a stroke. Aims A meta‐synthesis of qualitative evidence was conducted to explore family communication patterns after post‐stroke vascular aphasia. Methods An electronic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsyINFO, and Scopus was performed from January to March 2021. The methods of qualitative meta‐synthesis were underpinned by Sandelowski and Barosso's guidelines. Data analysis was facilitated by Braun and Clarke thematic analysis, using NVivo 11 software. Results A total of twenty studies were included for meta‐synthesis. Three themes with corresponding subthemes were identified: (1) changes in family communication patterns (subthemes: adapting to the changes in PWA after a stroke, striving toward communication recovery); (2) facilitators of family communication patterns (subthemes: supportive communication techniques, hope of recovery, time to re‐adjust, and community engagement [recreational activities]); and (3) barriers of communication (subthemes: emotional turmoil and daunting tasks of rehabilitation). Linking Evidence to Action Although persons with aphasia and family caregivers are striving to achieve normalcy in communication, they are often challenged by communication deficits and protective family behaviors. Therefore, to establish effective communication, it is of paramount importance for nursing professionals to educate PWAs and their caregivers on facilitators and barriers of family communication patterns. Technology‐based family communication facilitation and support groups for PWA and their family caregivers are recommended to promote family communication. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021235519).

Availability and Burden of Family Caregivers in Caring for a Recurrent Stroke Survivor in the Community During a Pandemic

“…This pertains to the abrupt onset of emotional symptoms of frustration, depression, and embarrassment lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, and is characterized by a display of emotion (shouting, swearing, pounding fists, and throwing things) followed by a return to the previous calm emotional state (Carota & Bogousslavsky, 2018;Choi-Kwon & Kim, 2022). Although many professionals speculate that these behaviors should be encouraged or at least tolerated as a way of promoting the patient's "adjustment" to his condition (Kirkevold et al, 2018), the memory and behavior changes of stroke survivors and the family conflict surrounding stroke recovery are important considerations during the post-stroke recovery period (Ramazanu et al, 2022;Tyagi et al, 2020).…”

Research hotspots and frontiers of post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation: a bibliometric study and visualization analysis

“…Family support, acquaintance with others, and a supportive social environment can improve the participation in rehabilitation and quality of life of people with post-stroke aphasia, and accessible information and collaborative interaction with health professionals can lead to self-rehabilitation management of people with post-stroke aphasia (Manning et al, 2019;Manning et al, 2020). A meta-analysis examined the adjustment process of family communication patterns during post-stroke aphasia and the factors that facilitate and hinder family communication, encouraging an open approach to family communication and a variety of modern technologies to support people with post-stroke aphasia and family members (Ramazanu et al, 2022). Qualitative findings from the perspective of patients with aphasia (Nichol et al, 2022) indicate that self-management of aphasia involves skills in daily conversation, social interaction, and life participation.…”

Communication Within Families: Understanding Patterns and Impacts on Mental Health

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