Self-Reported Home Program Adherence by People With Aphasia: Exploring Construct Validity

Abstract

Purpose: The study purpose was to compare the practice patterns captured by self-reported logbook data and those recorded by a computerized home program application. The current study is part of a larger single-case research design study aimed at investigating the effect of logbook use on home program adherence in people with aphasia poststroke.

Method: Data from six adults with chronic aphasia with interest in improving their reading were used in this secondary analysis. Participants completed reading comprehension therapy tasks using a mobile application and tablet. The activities were self-directed and designed for people with aphasia to complete independently. We created an aphasia-friendly logbook based on best practices to allow participants to record their estimated total minutes practiced. Participants received instructions to practice the reading therapy application 80 min a day 7 days a week for the duration of the study. We calculated the difference in the total time per day recorded by each participant to the application data collected.

Results: All participants used the logbook to record their practice. There was a strong relationship between self-reported logbook practice and application-recorded practice for four of the six participants. Individual differences were noted and explored.

Conclusion: These results suggest that some people with aphasia can use logbooks with aphasia-friendly modifications to accurately estimate the amount of practice completed outside of therapy sessions.