JCPSLP Vol 17 No 2 2015_web

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JCPSLP Volume 17, Number 2 2015 71
enabling opportunity to learn from others and facilitate a
sense of purpose.
6. Shared experience. Each of the above five factors
revolved around the final and, arguably, the central factor,
that of the shared experience provided by the group. This
was reflected in such comments as, “I’m getting the benefit
of them struggling as I struggle” (Participant 3) and “Our
group is friendly and we feel like we belong, a part of the
group” (Participant 1). This experience is broadened here to
include friendship, enjoyment, and a sense of group
belonging.
Discussion
This study sought to examine the communication group
experiences of group participants and their carers to
identify which factors contributed to the success and
longevity of a highly successful long-running community
communication group for people with acquired brain injury
(mainly stroke). It was anticipated that information drawn
from the perspectives of a sample of both group
participants and carers would allow the creation of a
preliminary model for sustainable communication groups
that could be implemented with future groups and be
evaluated, and subsequently inform providers. Given a key
difference between the successful group and the group
facing dissolution in the same geographical vicinity was the
involvement of an SLP, we were interested in the extent to
which this influenced the group’s success or whether the
shared experience of the group may be sufficient to
maintain the group as a viable entity.
While 14 themes were initially identified in the data set,
further reflection of the data highlighted 6 broader themes
which emerged from the data. These were considered, by
their nature, to be critical internal factors as they related
to the operation of the group. Underpinning these internal
factors, however, were a series of critical external sustaining
factors which involved organisational processes. Each of
these factors are represented schematically in Figure 1 in a
proposed model of communication group sustainability and
discussed below.
Critical internal factors
The first internal factor, the skills of the volunteers, was
acknowledged by the participants as fundamental to the
considered critical to the group’s success and which
included:
1. Volunteer skills. The first coalescence of factors revolved
around the knowledge, skills, and personal attributes of the
volunteer facilitators and was viewed as critical to the
group’s success, with listening skills rated highly, along with
targeted facilitation of communication among people with a
range of speech and language impairments. Having the
highest number of references in the interviews, the
importance of the volunteers in supporting the group
success emerged strongly, playing an important role in
facilitating a safe group environment and effective
communication support and practice. The personal
characteristics of demonstrating enthusiasm, empathy,
confidence, and interest in group members were
considered critical in the context of the unique contribution
brought by each.
2. Communication opportunity. The second critical success
factor around which several themes revolved was the
opportunity to be engaged in communication, i.e., to be
understood, to have time given to communicate, and to be
supported in practising communication skills. One
participant reported,
What it does is gives you confidence to talk among
other people and to range your thoughts because if
you have a brain injury or a stroke your brain is a bit
scr- scrambled and see you need a chance to exercise
that the way of thinking and to talk. (Participant 1)
Equally, the opportunity for social connection and
interaction was viewed highly, as was the opportunity
to both assist others and take the opportunity to learn
from other group members, in particular with regards to
strategies. Importantly, three of the four participants with
communication difficulties reported increased speech and
language skills – which was not the explicit intention of the
group – contributing to their motivation to attend.
3. Communication framework. The value of a clear
communication framework that informs the philosophy or
culture of a communication group drew together a number
of themes. Based around the total communication
approach, themes relating to acceptance of
communication, opportunity for safe and supported
practice to improve speech, opportunity to help and learn
from others, to be understood by others, and to experience
a sense of belonging were identified as key components of
a successful communication framework or group culture.
Together these factors contributed to increased ease of
communication and overall confidence.
4. Group organisation. Themes relating to the routine and
structure of the group, regularity of meetings, organisation
of the facilities, logistics, such as transport and afternoon
tea, group schedules, weekly preparation, and activities
coalesced, indicating that effective group organisation was
another factor critical to the success of the group. While the
volunteers contributed to the smooth running of the weekly
groups, the further organisation put in place by the SLP
around meeting space, transport, and interaction with other
service providers was acknowledged.
5. Environment. Several themes coalesced around the
provision of a safe physical and supported social
environment with this viewed as critical to the success of
the group. With clear overlap between other areas (e.g.,
involving acceptance, belonging, being understood by
others, similar difficulties of others), the environment was
viewed as one where people understood, were accepting
without judgment and where it was safe to make mistakes,
Sustainin g pr oces ses
Communication
opportunity
Communication
strategy and
co-ordination
Communication
framework
Volunteer
skills
Group
organisation Environment
Shared
experience
Volunteer
training and
support
Recruitment
and
marketing
Figure 1. Model of communication group sustainability