Adaptation of Better Conversations with Primary Progressive Aphasia to Norwegian

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Psycholinguistics

Background:

• Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) progressively impairs communication, causing distress for individuals and their partners.
• Existing communication partner training programs lack Norwegian adaptations, creating a service gap.
• The Better Conversations with Primary Progressive Aphasia (BCPPA) program shows promise but requires cultural adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To culturally adapt the UK-developed BCPPA program for Norwegian individuals with PPA and their communication partners.
• To assess the acceptability and preliminary outcomes of the adapted BCPPA program in a Norwegian context.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review-guided cultural adaptation, including translation and piloting.
• Four participant dyads (PPA individuals and communication partners) participated in the pilot study.
• Data collection included adherence checks, semi-structured interviews, Goal Attainment Scaling, conversation behavior analysis, and validated questionnaires (Aphasia Impact Questionnaire, Communicative Effectiveness Index).

Main Results:

• High adherence to the core components of the original BCPPA program was observed.
• The adapted BCPPA program was deemed acceptable by participants, with suggestions for further refinement.
• Participant dyads achieved their communication goals and showed sustained improvements in quality of life and communicative effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The Norwegian version of the BCPPA program is acceptable and potentially effective for individuals with PPA and their communication partners.
• This adapted program represents the first Norwegian communication partner training for PPA, offering a valuable new therapeutic tool.
• The BCPPA has the potential to significantly improve conversational abilities and quality of life for those affected by PPA in Norway.