Evaluation of Speak for Myself with Patients Who Are

Purpose: To describe the creation and initial feasibility study of a new computer application to improve communication with people who cannot communicate by customary means during their hospitalization. Design: This was a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design. Methods: This exploratory feasibility study obtained data about the experiences of 20 intensive care patients in three South Florida hospitals who were unable to speak due to mechanical obstruction. Findings: Study participants (20), who ranged in age from 45 to 91 years (M = 67.4, SD = 12.88) and between 1t o+ 1( SD = 0.15) on the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale, used Speak for Myself from 4 to 16 hours with a mean of 8.86 (SD = 2.12). Ninety-five percent of the participants stated that Speak for Myself was helpful for communication. Conclusions: Speak for Myself was helpful to patients who used it. This was a small study (n = 20). It warrants further investigation. Clinical Relevance: Patients who are unable to communicate their needs through conventional methods still want to make their preferences and needs known. Speak for Myself is a new application that facilitates ensuring the patient’s voice is heard.