ORCID ID
0000-0003-4428-9611
Publication Date
2020-06-16
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Academic Program
MD/PhD
Department
Department of Anesthesiology
First Thesis Advisor
Dr. Robert Brown
Keywords
AAC, Augmentative and alternative communication, Communication aid, Critical care, Intensive care, Rehabilitation, ICU, Intensive Care Unit, ICU patient communication, Assistive technology
Abstract
Nonvocal alert patients in the intensive care unit setting often struggle to communicate due to inaccessible or unavailable tools for augmentative and alternative communication. A novel communication tool, the Manually-Operated Communication System (MOCS), was developed for use in intensive care settings for patients unable to speak due to mechanical ventilation. It is a speech-generating device designed for patients whose limited manual dexterity precludes legible writing.
In a single-arm device feasibility trial, 14 participants (11 with tracheostomies, 2 with endotracheal tubes, and 1 recently extubated) used MOCS. Participants, family members, and observing nurses were interviewed whenever possible. Interviews included a modified version of the System Usability Scale (SUS) as well as open-ended questions; a qualitative immersion/crystallization approach was used to evaluate these responses.
Participants with a tracheostomy and their family members/care providers rated MOCS on the SUS questions as consistently “excellent” (average rating across all groups was 84 +/- 17; all subgroups also rated the device highly). Through a qualitative interview process, these stakeholders expressed support for the use of MOCS in the ICU. Based on these data, MOCS has the potential to improve communication for nonvocal patients with limited manual dexterity.
Repository Citation
Goldberg MA. (2020). Design and Testing of a Novel Communication System for Non-Vocal Critical Care Patients With Limited Manual Dexterity. Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Dissertations and Theses. https://doi.org/10.13028/x0va-7r45. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/gsbs_diss/1095
DOI
10.13028/x0va-7r45
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Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved.
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