Communicating to Non-Speaking Critically Ill Patients: Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technique as an Essential Strategy

Enhancing Communication in Critically Ill Patients with a Tracheostomy: A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based Interventions and Outcomes

Background

Tracheostomy, a common procedure performed in intensive care units (ICU), is associated with communication impairment and affects patient well-being. While prior research has focused on physiological care, there is a need to address communication needs and quality of life (QOL). We aimed to evaluate how different types of communication devices affect QOL, speech intelligibility, voice quality, time to significant events, clinical response and tolerance, and healthcare utilization in patients undergoing tracheostomy.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted to assess studies from 2016 onwards. Eligible studies included adult ICU patients with a tracheostomy, comparing different types of communication devices. Data were extracted and synthesized to evaluate QOL, speech intelligibility, voice quality, time to significant events (initial communication device use, oral intake, decannulation), clinical response and tolerance, and healthcare utilization and facilitators/barriers to device implementation.

Results

Among 9,228 studies screened, 8 were included in the review. Various communication devices were employed, comprising both tracheostomy types and speaking valves, highlighting the multifaceted nature of interventions. Quality of life improvements were observed with voice restoration interventions, but challenges such as speech intelligibility impairments were noted. The median time for initial communication device usage post-intervention was 11.4 ± 5.56 days. The median duration of speech tolerance ranged between 30-60 minutes to 2-3 hours across different studies. Complications such as air trapping or breathing difficulties were reported in 15% of cases. Additionally, the median ICU length of stay post-intervention was 36.5 days. Key facilitators for device implementation included early intervention, while barriers ranged from service variability to physical intolerance issues.

Conclusion

Findings demonstrate that various types of communication devices can significantly enhance the quality of life, speech intelligibility, and voice quality for patients undergoing tracheostomy, aligning with the desired outcomes of improved clinical response and reduced healthcare utilization. The identification of facilitators and barriers to device implementation further informs clinical practice, suggesting a tailored, patient-centered approach is crucial for optimizing the benefits of communication devices in this population.

Patient perceptions of ICU physiotherapy: 'Your body needs to go somewhere to be recharged … '

Background

Patient satisfaction is an essential concept to consider for the improvement of quality care in healthcare centres and hospitals and has been linked to increased patient compliance with treatment plans, better patient safety and improved clinical outcomes.

Objectives

As part of a before-and-after clinical trial aimed to investigate the implementation of an evidence-based and -validated physiotherapy protocol within a surgical intensive care unit (ICU), we decided to include the patient perception of physiotherapy received in the intervention unit.

Methods

A nested, exploratory, descriptive, qualitative study design was adopted. Purposively selected adult patients discharged from ICU during the implementation phase of the trial were interviewed.

Results

Eighteen patients (10 male) with a median age of 44 years and median ICU length of stay (LOS) of six days were included. Three themes and nine categories emerged: (i) linking therapy to clinical outcome (patient expectations and understanding; physiotherapy activities and the implication of mobilisation; physiotherapy benefits and progression); (ii) the importance of developing a trusting relationship (physiotherapy value; safety; continuity of care); and (iii) communication (satisfaction; interactions and patient perception and experience of physiotherapy).

Conclusion

While confirming barriers to early mobility, patients perceived participation in mobility activities as a marked jolt in their journey to recovery following a critical incident. Effective communication and preservation of trust between physiotherapist and patient are essential for understanding expectations and can facilitate improved outcomes. Clinicians can use the information when managing critically ill patients. Including patient-reported outcomes to measure physiotherapy interventions used in the ICU is feasible and can inform the development of such outcomes.

Contribution of the study

The study highlights the feasibility and importance of the use of patient-reported outcomes to measure physiotherapy interventions and informs the development of patient reported outcomes and the importance of patient centred physiotherapy care in the ICU setting.

A user evaluation of speech/phrase recognition software in critically ill patients: a DECIDE-AI feasibility study

OBJECTIVES

Evaluating effectiveness of speech/phrase recognition software in critically ill patients with speech impairments.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

Tertiary hospital critical care unit in the northwest of England.

PARTICIPANTS

14 patients with tracheostomies, 3 female and 11 male.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Evaluation of dynamic time warping (DTW) and deep neural networks (DNN) methods in a speech/phrase recognition application. Using speech/phrase recognition app for voice impaired (SRAVI), patients attempted mouthing various supported phrases with recordings evaluated by both DNN and DTW processing methods. Then, a trio of potential recognition phrases was displayed on the screen, ranked from first to third in order of likelihood.

RESULTS

A total of 616 patient recordings were taken with 516 phrase identifiable recordings. The overall results revealed a total recognition accuracy across all three ranks of 86% using the DNN method. The rank 1 recognition accuracy of the DNN method was 75%. The DTW method had a total recognition accuracy of 74%, with a rank 1 accuracy of 48%.

CONCLUSION

This feasibility evaluation of a novel speech/phrase recognition app using SRAVI demonstrated a good correlation between spoken phrases and app recognition. This suggests that speech/phrase recognition technology could be a therapeutic option to bridge the gap in communication in critically ill patients.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC

Communication can be attempted using visual charts, eye gaze boards, alphabet boards, speech/phrase reading, gestures and speaking valves in critically ill patients with speech impairments.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

Deep neural networks and dynamic time warping methods can be used to analyse lip movements and identify intended phrases.

HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND POLICY

Our study shows that speech/phrase recognition software has a role to play in bridging the communication gap in speech impairment.

ICU nurses´ lived experience of caring for adult patients with a tracheostomy in ICU: a phenomenological-hermeneutic study

Background

The care of adult patients with a tracheostomy in intensive care unit is complex, challenging and requires skilled intensive care unit nurses. ICU nurses’ live experience is scarcely known. This study aimed to describe the lived experience of intensive care unit nurses of caring for adult patients with a tracheostomy in intensive care unit.

Methods

This study employs a qualitative design. In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sampling of 6 intensive care unit nurses from a medical-surgical ICU of a university hospital in Norway who were interviewed. Data was analyzed and interpreted using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach. This study was reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).

Results

The interpretation yielded the following themes and subthemes: 1) theme: ‘challenges of caring for patients with a tracheostomy’ consisted of the sub-themes: ‘difficult to communicate/interpret and understand the patient’s different forms of expression’, ‘complicated professional assessments’, ‘caring with patience’, and ‘collaborating with patient regarding challenges. 2) theme: ‘the satisfaction from providing care to patients with a tracheostomy’ consisted of the sub-themes: ‘working with intensive care patients is instructive’ and ‘importance to motivate’.

Conclusions

ICU nurses experienced ambivalent feelings while caring for adult patients with a tracheostomy in ICU. They perceived caring as demanding owing to communication and collaboration at the same time, they experienced satisfaction while they strived to provide proper care and motivation. The identified challenges would lead to further improvement in nurses’ experiences and, in turn, the quality-of-care for patients with a tracheostomy. Awareness of these challenges is crucial to understand the need for an effective communication strategy to improve the quality and safety of adult patients with tracheostomy in ICU.