Interventions to enable communication for adult patients requiring an artificial airway with or without mechanical ventilator support

Rose, L., Sutt, A. L., Amaral, A. C., Fergusson, D. A., Smith, O. M., & Dale, C. M. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013379.pub2

Abstract: Inability to communicate in a manner that can be understood causes extreme distress for people requiring an artificial airway and has implications for care quality and patient safety. Options for aided communication include non-vocal, speech-generating, and voice-enabling aids. To assess effectiveness of communication aids for people requiring an artificial airway (endotracheal or tracheostomy tube), defined as the proportion of people able to: use a non-vocal communication aid to communicate at least one symptom, need, or preference; or use a voice-enabling communication aid to phonate to produce at least one intelligible word. To assess time to communication/phonation; perceptions of communication; communication quality/success; quality of life; psychological distress; length of stay and costs; and adverse events.