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Background Intensive comprehensive rehabilitation is recommended as an effective way to improve speech and language in individuals with aphasia. However, there is limited research on patients’ experiences, especially for modified Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programmes (mICAPs) in regular healthcare settings.Aim This study aimed to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and engagement of individuals with aphasia with and without co-occurring apraxia of speech (AOS), when participating in an mICAP in regular healthcare settings.Methods (2) the mICAP was enjoyable and effective, and the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) played an important role; (3) highly motivated for continued and more challenging rehab; (4) can be tiring at the start, but stamina improves; and (5) transportation and physical limitations can be barriers. Mixed-methods analysis revealed that qualitative data provided crucial nuances to the quantitative findings. Although the questionnaire respondents reported tiredness as a problem, the interviewed patients described an initial fatigue that was short-lived and replaced by increasing stamina. Similarly, although a preference for individual sessions was reported in the questionnaires, interview patients described the comprehensive format as more effective. And while goal setting involvement had high ratings in the questionnaires, interview responses indicated that both the goal setting process and the goals were unclear.Conclusions Participants with aphasia, with or without co-occurring AOS, found the mICAP acceptable and feasible when introduced across multiple sites in regular Swedish healthcare. They showed high engagement, described the mICAP as enjoyable and effective, and valued their contact with the SLP greatly. Although the intensive format can be initially tiring, the participants remained highly motivated for longer and even more demanding rehabilitation.
Schütz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.