To what extent can we rely on the views of family members and friends when it comes to understanding aphasic people’s quality of life?

Cruice, Madeline and Hill, Ruth and Worrall, Linda and Hickson, Louise (2006) To what extent can we rely on the views of family members and friends when it comes to understanding aphasic people’s quality of life? [Clinical Aphasiology Paper]

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Abstract

This study addresses the important question of to what extent can we rely on the views of proxy respondents when it comes to understanding aphasic people’s quality of life. Thirty proxies answered six open-ended questions on their partners’ behalf in semi-structured interviews. Case by case matches of proxies’ with their aphasic partners’ responses are reported. Proxies were limited in their capacity as informants, able to describe the impact of people, activities, and verbal communication only. Whilst these were the key concepts for aphasic participants, only one third of proxies generally identified them, and the breadth of participants’ views remained uncaptured by proxies (e.g. mobility, one’s home, support from others, positive outlook, in/dependence, health, impairments, and recognising strengths in communication). (119 words)

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