Computer therapy versus usual stimulation for people with long standing aphasia
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN91534629 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN91534629 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | 7203 |
- Submission date
- 21/05/2010
- Registration date
- 21/05/2010
- Last edited
- 27/10/2022
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Signs and Symptoms
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Plain English summary of protocol
Not provided at time of registration
Contact information
Dr Rebecca Palmer
Scientific
Scientific
University of Sheffield
107 Innovation centre
217 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
United Kingdom
| r.l.palmer@sheffield.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Multicentre randomised interventional treatment trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Treatment |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Evaluating the cost effectiveness of computer therapy compared with usual stimulation for people with long standing aphasia: a feasibility study [Previously known as Computerised Word Finding Therapy for Stroke] |
| Study acronym | CACTUS |
| Study objectives | Aphasia is a communication disorder often caused by stroke. It can affect the ability to understand what is said, the ability to produce correct words and the ability to read and write. People with aphasia rarely receive treatment from NHS speech and language therapists for more than 3 months. It has been established that people with aphasia can continue to improve their communication with prolonged treatment (beyond 12 months). However this is rarely available. Surveys indicate that people with aphasia and their families often feel abandonned when therapy is discontinued and want to continue making efforts to improve (Stroke Survey 2006). Step-by-Step is a computer program designed to help people to practise exercises to improve their ability to find the correct words when they are talking. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of carrying out a large study to compare computer therapy with the usual stimulation provided for people with aphasia in stroke clubs or at home to see if use of computer software with assistance from a carer/volunteer can improve the ability of people with aphasia to talk. People who use the computers for treatment will be interviewed to find out how they found working with computers. This research will test the methods for a randomised controlled trial to help establish whether people with aphasia can continue to improve their ability to talk after completion of traditional NHS therapy, and whether this can be achieved cost-effectively by offering computer treatment at home and in voluntary sector settings. Potential benefits to patients include the opportunity for continued treatment and thus improved ability to talk. It could also give patients independence and control over their therapy. The NHS would benefit by being able to support a long term aphasia treatment service without increasing demand on therapy resources. |
| Ethics approval(s) | NHS Bradford Research Ethics Committee approved on the 15th April 2009 (ref: 09/H1302/20) |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Topic: Stroke Research Network; Subtopic: Rehabilitation; Disease: Community study |
| Intervention | Thirty participants with aphasia will be recruited. Participants will be randomly allocated to computer treatment using Step-by-Step word finding software by Jane Mortley (group 1) or usual care (group 2). Group 1 will carry out computer exercises independent of a speech therapist for 5 months. Support will be provided only by stroke volunteers or carers. Structured interviews about the use of computers will be carried out with participants. Study entry: single randomisation only |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Recruitment rate, measured at baseline, 5 months and 8 months. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Measured at baseline, 5 months and 8 months: 1. Acceptability of using computer based word finding therapy 2. Change in participation and wellbeing 3. Change in word retrieval 4. Estimation of effect size 5. Quality adjusted life years 6. Resource use data |
| Overall study start date | 30/10/2009 |
| Completion date | 30/09/2010 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | Planned sample size: 30; UK sample size: 30 |
| Total final enrolment | 34 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Diagnosis of stroke and aphasia with word finding difficulties as one of the predominant features as assessed by the Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) 2. No longer receiving treatment from a speech and language therapist so that the computer treatment can be better isolated and evaluated 3. First stroke and reported by close relatives/friends to have had no speech or language difficulty pre-stroke to isolate cause 4. Both male and female 18 years or above with no upper age limit |
| Key exclusion criteria | Severe visual or cognitive difficulties reducing ability to use the computer program, tested by the ability to see and perform a simple, non-verbally based computer game. |
| Date of first enrolment | 30/10/2009 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2010 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
University of Sheffield
Sheffield
S1 4DP
United Kingdom
S1 4DP
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre
Hospital/treatment centre
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Glossop Road
Sheffield
S10 2JF
England
United Kingdom
| Website | http://www.sth.nhs.uk/ |
|---|---|
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/018hjpz25 |
Funders
Funder type
Government
National Insititute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) - Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB)
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan | Not provided at time of registration |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 01/07/2012 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
27/10/2022: The total final enrolment has been added.
