Computer-Based Communication Tool Provides Effective Communication for Non-speaking Patients: A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Even though they are conscious, patients who are unable to speak while connected to a mechanical ventilator have serious difficulties in communicating with healthcare staff. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness for patients of a computer-based communication tool (CBCT) and to compare these results with patients using a routine method. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 90 intubated patients. It was found that 20.0% of the patients using CBCT stated that they had difficulties in communicating, while this rate was 82.2% among patients not using CBCT. Compared with participants in the control group, experimental group patients reported a lower median score for the anxiety levels (23.0 [20.0–39.0], 29.0 [20.0–57.00], p < .001) and higher mean comfort levels (130.2 ± 9.0, 109.6 ± 13.3, p < .001). Positive impacts of the CBCT are its suitability for patients who are dependent upon ventilation for different reasons and their improved ability to communicate effectively.

Communication with mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units: A concept analysis

“…Tracheostomized patients in intensive care/Patients on tracheostomy receiving mechanical ventilation (Flinterud & Andershed, 2015;Mills et al, 2022;Panadian et al, 2019) Ventilator dependent patients with tracheostomies (McGrath et al, 2016(McGrath et al, , 2019 Ventilator supported individuals (Casbolt, 2002) Phrases used to describe patient population both by their communication abilities and being dependent on mechanical ventilation (Adult) Non-sedated (and more awake/mechanically ventilated) ICU patients (Albayram & Yava, 2020;Danielis et al, 2020;Holm & Dreyer, 2018b;Karlsen et al, 2020) Conscious and alert (voiceless/oriented) patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (Duffy et al, 2018;Holm & Dreyer, 2018b;Karlsen et al, 2019) Intubated patients' ability to communicate (Ijssennagger et al, 2018) Mechanically ventilated patients who are awake and able to communicate (Danielis et al, 2020) Mechanically ventilated patients who cannot communicate verbally due to endotracheal intubation/tracheostomy (Holm et al, 2020) Nonspeaking (critically ill/hospitalized) patients treated with mechanical ventilation (in the intensive care unit; Foa et al, 2016;Happ et al, 2011;Happ, Roesch, et al, 2004;Yavuz & Gursoy, 2022) Nonvocal (ventilated/critical care) patients (Carroll, 2004(Carroll, , 2007Trotta et al, 2020) Patient who are voiceless due to mechanical ventilation (Koszalinski et al, 2015) Unable/able to speak/talk/communicate/verbally express themselves (as result of ventilation, because of their need for mechanical ventilation and respiratory tract intubation (Carroll, 2004;Fitch et al, 1998;Foa et al, 2016;Guttormson et al, 2015;Hosseini et al, 2018...…”

“…Effective/ineffective communication (Ariffin et al, 2020;Bayog et al, 2020;Carroll, 2004Carroll, , 2007Carruthers et al, 2017;Choi & Tate, 2021;Dithole et al, 2016a;El-Soussi et al, 2015;Finke et al, 2008;Fitch et al, 1998;Freeman-Sanderson et al, 2019;Garry et al, 2016;Guttormson et al, 2015;Ju et al, 2021;Khalalia et al, 2011;Leung et al, 2017;Modrykamien, 2019;Momennasab et al, 2019;Otuzoğlu & Karahan, 2013;Rathi & Baskaran, 2014;Salem & Ahmad, 2018;Wojincki-Johansen, 2001;Yavuz & Gursoy, 2022) Effective communication is dependent on two individual and environmental factors and occurs when both the sender and receiver of messages achieve shared meaning and understanding. Effective communication can help patients cope with their situation and improve patient outcomes and wellbeing.…”

“…Awake but unable to speak (Leung et al, 2017) Inability to speak/communicate (Albayram & Yava, 2020;Choi & Tate, 2021;Foa et al, 2016;Hosseini et al, 2018;Ijssennagger et al, 2018;Sutt et al, 2015) Intubated (intensive care unit) patients (being unable to speak; El-Soussi et al, 2015;Happ et al, 2014;Otuzoğlu & Karahan, 2013) Lack of phonation (Freeman-Sanderson et al, 2016a) Loss of voice (Freeman-Sanderson et al, 2016b) Patients with transient speech loss (Mobasheri et al, 2016) Temporary loss of speech function or permanent speech impairments (Holm et al, 2020) Temporarily non-speaking patients (Happ, Roesch, et al, 2004;Happ, Tuite, et al, 2004) Suddenly speechless critical care patients (Rodriguez et al, 2016) Unable to speak (out loud) (Ariffin et al, 2020;Carroll, 2004Carroll, , 2007Yavuz & Gursoy, 2022) Voiceless patients (in intensive care units; Ariffin et al, 2020;Carruthers et al, 2017;Ju et al, 2021;Koszalinski et al, 2015;Radtke et al, 2011)…”