"For them and for me": a qualitative exploration of peer befrienders' experiences supporting people with aphasia in the SUPERB feasibility trial

CONCLUSIONS: Befrienders perceived the role as enjoyable and rewarding, and felt they were making a positive difference. They were unanimous in believing that people with aphasia can offer unique and valuable support to others with aphasia.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02947776, registered 28th October 2016.Implications for rehabilitationPeople with lived experience of stroke and aphasia were able to offer emotional and social peer support to others with aphasia within the SUPERB trial.Although there were challenges, peer befrienders perceived the role as rewarding and satisfying.Peer befrienders valued the training and ongoing supervision and support they received to deliver the intervention.It is recommended that rehabilitation professionals considering offering peer-befriending schemes provide training and ongoing supervision to support peer-befrienders fulfil their role, as well as practical support with, e.g., arranging visits.PMID:34027757 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2021.1922520
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Source Type: research