The Return to Work Experiences of People With Communication Disorders Post-stroke: a Qualitative Study

Approximately a quarter of stroke survivors are of working age, and it is well-known that disabilities caused by stroke can lead to difficulties returning to work. In addition to the economic cost, being out of the workplace due to disability has major psychosocial costs for the individual, causing reduced sense of purpose, quality of life, and standard of living. Communication problems (which can affect reading and writing, as well as producing and understanding speech) are not as visible as other stroke-related problems such as a weak arm or difficulties walking. However, they can cause major problems for returning to work because of the importance of communication across a vast range of work activities, for example as a means to engage with colleagues, to share information in order to solve problems and resolve conflicts, and as a means to ensure health and safety. There has been little research into the effects of communication problems on returning to work after a stroke, so the investigators want to explore this issue. Specifically, the investigators want to find out what helps and what hinders people with communication disorders following a stroke when they attempt to return to work; what information and support is most helpful to them; how this information and support should be given and by whom. The investigators aim to do this by interviewing people across NHS Grampian who have the experience of attempting to return to work with post-stroke communication problems. The investigators will then look at all the interviews together and find the common feelings or experiences that the participants mentioned. The findings will be written up and shared widely with professionals and with stroke survivors. The knowledge gained will help the investigators to plan a programme to help people with these problems to return to work.