Background: Aphasia is a language disorder that often occurs as a result of stroke. Carers of people with aphasia face unique challenges, experiencing a higher burden of care and more negative stroke-related outcomes compared to carers of stroke survivors without aphasia. The current healthcare model limits community care support services available to carers.
Aims: This project aims to develop a web-based psychoeducation program for carers of people with aphasia that provides personalised resources and a self-directed e-learning course. The course is designed to increase knowledge of aphasia, develop practical skills to address common challenges, and offer guidance on managing emotional difficulties post-stroke. Additionally, the project will test the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of the web-based program.
Methods: A series of co-production meetings were conducted with carers to gather input on the design of the psychoeducation program. A team of UX designers and data analytics colleagues assisted in the structural design of the carer platform that hosts the program. E-learning course was developed based on previous post-stroke carer interventions. Following its development, a mixed-methods convergent pilot feasibility study will be conducted.
Discussion: The findings from this research will contribute valuable knowledge to the fields of speech-language pathology, social work, and others. The development and implementation of a self-directed web-based program tailored for carers of people with aphasia will offer practical insights and additional support in these areas. The research outcomes may influence future practice by highlighting the effectiveness of self-directed web-based programs in increasing self-efficacy and reducing carer burden.