Feasibility of an iPad to Facilitate Communication in Postoperative Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.
Theresa H Brunner, Kristyn DiFortuna, Michael LeTang and 6 others
PMID 30077281WHAT IT FOUND
Most patients recovering from head and neck surgery could use a customized tablet to communicate in the recovery room.
Sixty percent reported satisfaction, but users found the device heavy and difficult to navigate with swollen hands. It is a feasible aid, not a proven treatment.
Key findings
01Sixty-six percent of consented patients were able to use the customized tablet in the immediate postoperative setting.
02Sixty percent of the patients who used the tablet reported being satisfied with it as a communication tool.
03Patients reported practical barriers including the device being heavy and the onscreen keyboard being difficult to navigate with swollen hands.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was a small feasibility pilot with only 25 patients analysed, so it cannot prove efficacy or generalizability. The application was only available in English, excluding non-English speaking patients. A convenience sample was used, which may introduce selection bias. The tablet was only used in the PACU, so long-term utility on the ward was not tested.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 60% satisfaction rate as evidence that tablets are superior to standard methods like whiteboards. The study was designed only to test if patients could use the device in the recovery room, not to compare it against other communication aids or measure clinical outcomes.