A core outcome set for aphasia treatment research: The ROMA consensus statement

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Aphasia treatment research lacks standardized outcome measurement, hindering transparent and efficient data collection.
• A consensus was needed to establish a minimum set of outcomes for aphasia research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide evidence-based recommendations for outcome measurement in adults with post-stroke aphasia.
• To establish a core outcome set (COS) for aphasia treatment studies (Phases I-IV).

Main Methods:

• A four-year research program including stakeholder consultation and a scoping review of measurement instruments.
• An international consensus meeting to discuss findings and reach agreement on outcome measures.

Main Results:

• Five essential outcome constructs identified: Language, communication, patient satisfaction, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life.
• Consensus reached for Western Aphasia Battery Revised (WAB-R) for language, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 for emotional wellbeing, and Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39) for quality of life.
• Consensus could not be reached for communication or patient-reported satisfaction/impact measures.

Conclusions:

• The WAB-R, GHQ-12, and SAQOL-39 are recommended for routine inclusion in aphasia treatment studies.
• This consensus statement (ROMA) aims to harmonize outcome measurement in aphasia research and stroke rehabilitation.