High-Tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication in a Burn Patient With Voicelessness: A Case Study.
Silvia Porcarelli, Monica Codara, Diletta Fabrizi and 2 others
PMID 42023473WHAT IT FOUND
A motion-sensor tablet allowed a voiceless burn patient to communicate specific needs and complex sentences.
Nurses reported better care and no increased workload, while the patient and family reported reduced distress and improved connection.
Key findings
01Standard low-tech AAC tools were unusable due to hand burns and dressings, necessitating a high-tech motion-sensor solution.
02The patient successfully used a single-gesture motion sensor on their arm to select icons and type complex sentences, facilitating specific care requests.
03Four of five nurses reported improved perceived quality of care, and no nurses reported an increase in workload.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so it describes one patient's experience and cannot prove that the device works for other patients or improves clinical outcomes generally. The patient was an adolescent with no cognitive deficits or visual/hearing impairments, which may not be true for all ICU patients. The device was used for a short period (72-80 hours total), so long-term feasibility and impact on recovery are unknown. Nurse outcomes are based on subjective reports of perceived quality of care and workload, not objective measures of care efficiency or patient safety incidents.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The device was available through a partnership between the hospital, a university, and a technology company, but its use in this case was outside the scope of that study and based on clinical practice and ethics.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this device will work for all burn patients or that it reduces clinical workload in busy units. This is a single case where the patient had specific motor capabilities and no cognitive deficits. The lack of reported workload increase is a self-report from five nurses in a 1:1 staffing ratio, which is not typical for all ICU settings.