• Emma Power, Emma Thomas, Linda Worrall, Miranda Rose, Leanne Togher, Lyndsey Nickels, Deborah Hersh, Erin Godecke, Robyn O'Halloran, Sue Lamont, Claire O'Connor, and Kim Clarke.
• Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Aphasia Rehabilitation.
• BMJ Open. 2015 Jul 2; 5 (7): e007641.

ObjectivesTo develop and validate a national set of best practice statements for use in post-stroke aphasia rehabilitation.DesignLiterature review and statement validation using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM).ParticipantsA national Community of Practice of over 250 speech pathologists, researchers, consumers and policymakers developed a framework consisting of eight areas of care in aphasia rehabilitation. This framework provided the structure for the development of a care pathway containing aphasia rehabilitation best practice statements. Nine speech pathologists with expertise in aphasia rehabilitation participated in two rounds of RAND/UCLA appropriateness ratings of the statements. Panellists consisted of researchers, service managers, clinicians and policymakers.Main Outcome MeasuresStatements that achieved a high level of agreement and an overall median score of 7-9 on a nine-point scale were rated as 'appropriate'.Results74 best practice statements were extracted from the literature and rated across eight areas of care (eg, receiving the right referrals, providing intervention). At the end of Round 1, 71 of the 74 statements were rated as appropriate, no statements were rated as inappropriate, and three statements were rated as uncertain. All 74 statements were then rated again in the face-to-face second round. 16 statements were added through splitting existing items or adding new statements. Seven statements were deleted leaving 83 statements. Agreement was reached for 82 of the final 83 statements.ConclusionsThis national set of 82 best practice statements across eight care areas for the rehabilitation of people with aphasia is the first to be validated by an expert panel. These statements form a crucial component of the Australian Aphasia Rehabilitation Pathway (AARP) (http://www.aphasiapathway.com.au) and provide the basis for more consistent implementation of evidence-based practice in stroke rehabilitation.Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

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