What does this research mean for the field?

The provision of guideline-recommended speech and language therapy for aphasia is primarily hindered by structural and organizational barriers within the healthcare system, particularly during the transition to outpatient care, rather than by individual patient factors. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore systemic and individual barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy for aphasia across the patient journey within the German-speaking healthcare system.

September 8, 2026BMC Health Services ResearchOpen Access

“Then you are left on your own”: barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy for aphasia along the patient journey in the German-speaking healthcare context

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Authors

SMSusann MayHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin FMFelix MuehlensiepenInstitut polytechnique de Grenoble LPLaura PlothoFH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences

Discussion

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Implication

Qualitative study uncovers structural and transitional barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy in aphasia, highlighting the need for coordinated outpatient care pathways.

Key Points

To explore systemic and individual barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy for aphasia across the patient journey within the German-speaking healthcare system.
Conducted an exploratory qualitative study using two online focus group discussions in the German-speaking healthcare context.
Sampled people with aphasia, relatives, speech and language therapists, and other healthcare stakeholders using a semi-structured guide.
Analyzed verbatim German transcripts via Kuckartz’s structured qualitative content analysis.
Identified six central themes: societal and systemic conditions, care access, continuity along the patient journey, relative and social environment, psychosocial factors, and interdisciplinary therapy provision.
Fragmented outpatient care pathways, bureaucratic and financial hurdles, and the transition from inpatient to self-organized outpatient care emerged as the most critical structural barriers.
Family members routinely performed uncompensated organizational and communication tasks to bridge care deficits, generating disparities in therapy access for individuals lacking private support networks.

Cite This Study

May et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7b758e84d0ff5b46a6a https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15523-w

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Implication

Qualitative study uncovers structural and transitional barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy in aphasia, highlighting the need for coordinated outpatient care pathways.

“Then you are left on your own”: barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy for aphasia along the patient journey in the German-speaking healthcare context

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

“Then you are left on your own”: barriers to guideline-based speech and language therapy for aphasia along the patient journey in the German-speaking healthcare context

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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