Aphasia awareness among health professionals in an acute hospital setting

Abstract

This dissertation investigated the awareness of aphasia among healthcare professionals in an acute hospital setting (AHS) in Malta. Current local research on this subject is scarce, and most existing studies focus on public rather than healthcare professionals' awareness of aphasia. Given the impact of communication disorders on patient care, a lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals could contribute to reduced patient outcomes. The study aimed to assess the level of aphasia awareness across professionals within the general state hospital, exploring the challenges that arise due to the possibility of limited awareness. A mixed-methods approach was used, including an online survey for health professionals and a focus group meeting with speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, while a thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data. The findings revealed that while most healthcare professionals demonstrated a surface-level understanding of aphasia, deeper knowledge of its implications for patient care was lacking. These findings highlight the need for increased awareness and training programs in healthcare settings.