Evaluation of Speak for Myself with Patients Who Are Voiceless.

PURPOSE: To describe the creation and initial feasibility study of a new computer application to improve communication with people who cannot communicate by customary means during their hospitalization.

DESIGN

This was a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design.

METHODS

This exploratory feasibility study obtained data about the experiences of 20 intensive care patients in three South Florida hospitals who were unable to speak due to mechanical obstruction.

FINDINGS: Study participants (20), who ranged in age from 45 to 91 years (M=67.4, SD=12.88) and between -1 to +1 (SD=-0.15) on the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale, used Speak for Myself from 4 to 16 hours with a mean of 8.86 (SD=2.12). Ninety-five percent of the participants stated that Speak for Myself was helpful for communication.

CONCLUSIONS

Speak for Myself was helpful to patients who used it. This was a small study (n=20). It warrants further investigation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Patients who are unable to communicate their needs through conventional methods still want to make their preferences and needs known. Speak for Myself is a new application that facilitates ensuring the patient's voice is heard.