Overview 
This website includes composite tables of aphasia treatment studies reported in the literature. The studies are grouped according to the nature of the primary outcome variable, that is, the primary dependent variable of interest.
The tables include information regarding the study design, number of participants (n), class (C), and phase of treatment research (Ph), and the type of treatment.
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Link to Enter Studies
Data Provided for Each Study
- Treatment Category (based in primary dependent variable)
- Study design
- Levels of evidence
- Treatment description
Study Designs are coded as follows:
- RCT = Randomized control trial
- G b/t = Between group design
- G w/in = Within group design
- CSeries = Cases Series
- SS = Single subject design
- CS = Case study (non experimental)
Class of Study was coded in accordance with American Academy of Neurology guidelines (2001).
| Class | Stength | Evidence provided by: |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strongest | One or more well designed randomized control trials, including meta-analyses of such trials |
| 2 | Intermediate | Well designed observational studies with concurrent controls. Single subject multiple baseline studies across subjects. |
| 3 | Weakest | Expert opinion, case studies, case reports, studies with historical controls. Single subject multiple baseline studies across behaviors. |
Levels of evidence (see ASHA EPB website) http://www.asha.org/members/ebp/assessing.htm
| Level | Evidence provided by: |
|---|---|
| Ia | Well-designed meta-analysis of greater than 1 randomized control trial |
| Ib | Well-designed randomized controlled study. |
| IIa | Well-designed controlled study without randomization. |
| IIb | Well controlled quasi-experimental study. |
| III | Well-designed non-experimental studies, i.e., correlational studies and case studies. |
| IV | Expert committee report, consensus conference, clinical eperience of respected authorities. |
Adapted by ASHA from Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
Phase of treatment research is coded according to Robey and Schultz (1998)
| Phase | Type | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre-efficacy | to determine if there is evidence to suggest that a tx has therapeutic value |
| 2 | Pre-efficacy | to develop, standardize, validate, and optimize procedures to explain why treatment works; who are ideal candidates |
| 3 | Efficacy | tests tx efficacy under ideal conditions |
| 4 | Effectiveness | to determine effectiveness of treatment under ordinary conditions of use |
| 5 | Effectiveness | explore efficiency, cost-benefit, patient and family satisfaction, the influence of treatment on patients' quality of life |
See also: Robey R (2004). A five-phase model for clinical-outcome research. Journal of Communication Disorders, 37, 401-411).
Additional resources regarding evidence-based practice in aphasia.