Publication: CURRENT PRACTICE OF SCREENING FOR DEPRESSION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH POST-STROKE APHASIA
Loading...
Date
2024-04-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type
Poster
Abstract
This study aims to identify current practices regarding mental health assessment protocols and tools utilized among practicing occupational therapists (OT) and occupational therapist assistants (OTA) currently working with clients who have experienced post-stroke aphasia. This was done by creating a survey that gathered information surrounding participants' current knowledge of depression among aphasic patients, what the current practice is at their place of work around screening for depression in patients with Aphasia, and whether or not they think a protocol would be beneficial for this population. The Husson IRB approved this study as a qualitative study with a descriptive design and non-probability sampling. An invitation to participate was sent through two American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) CommunOT listservs. In addition, the invitation was sent to all members of the Maine and New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Associations. Data was collected anonymously using Google Forms. The survey was open and available between March 12 and April 5, 2024. Preliminary data identifies the majority of practitioners working with clients with post-stroke aphasia are occupational therapists with between 2 and 24 years of experience and a median of 10 years. Approximately 18% of respondents are not aware of the prevalence of individuals who experience post-stroke aphasia and nearly 46% state that they are not aware that these individuals are seven times more likely to have symptoms of depression. While all respondents indicated that screening for depression would be beneficial, only nine percent reported that they did assess and none used a standardized method. Based on this data, there appears to be a knowledge gap in care and treatment for clients who experience post-stroke aphasia and symptoms of depression. Standardized assessment tools and protocol development, in addition to specific training, are needed to help ensure quality holistic care of people who have post-stroke aphasia.