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Communication experience of individuals treated with home mechanical ventilation.

Laakso, Katja LU ; Markström, Agneta ; Idvall, Markus LU ; Havstam, Christina and Hartelius, Lena (2011) In International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 46(6). p.686-699
Abstract
Background: Mechanical ventilatory support seriously affects speaking and communication, and earlier studies show that many ventilator-supported patients experience difficulties and frustration with their speech and voice production. Since there is a growing number of individuals who require mechanical ventilatory support and there is a paucity of studies that examine ventilator-supported communication, this research area needs to be developed to ensure adequate health services for this population. The present study focused on ventilator-supported communication from the point of view of individuals receiving home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Aims: The specific aim was to examine the communication experience of individuals receiving HMV.... (More)
Background: Mechanical ventilatory support seriously affects speaking and communication, and earlier studies show that many ventilator-supported patients experience difficulties and frustration with their speech and voice production. Since there is a growing number of individuals who require mechanical ventilatory support and there is a paucity of studies that examine ventilator-supported communication, this research area needs to be developed to ensure adequate health services for this population. The present study focused on ventilator-supported communication from the point of view of individuals receiving home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Aims: The specific aim was to examine the communication experience of individuals receiving HMV. Methods & Procedures: A qualitative approach was adopted for this study, and data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to structure, condense and interpret the data. The participants were recruited from the National Respiratory Centre (NRC) in Sweden, and included 19 individuals receiving HMV. Outcomes & Results: The main theme A long and lonely struggle to find a voice and six subthemes detailing different facets of it emerged from data analysis: Managing changed speech conditions, Prioritising voice, A third party supporting communication, Using communication to get things done, Depending on technology, and Facing ignorance. Important aspects influencing the ventilator-supported individuals' communicative performance (speech, support from others and technological solutions) are discussed. Conclusions & Implications: The study revealed that healthcare practitioners involved in the care of individuals receiving HMV need to improve their understanding and knowledge of issues related to ventilator-supported communication. Individuals receiving HMV encounter a needlessly long and lonely struggle to achieve effective communication. They face numerous challenges regarding their communication, and they need to be heard in both literal and figurative senses. To overcome these challenges they need support from competent healthcare practitioners and personal assistants, and continuous follow-up by speech and language therapists tailoring communicative solutions to fit individual needs. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders
volume
46
issue
6
pages
686 - 699
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000297974700007
  • pmid:22026570
  • scopus:84055217542
  • pmid:22026570
ISSN
1368-2822
DOI
10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00040.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: The Vårdal Institute (016540000)
id
cf70b551-953e-41f2-b576-8aa94ae43556 (old id 2200170)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Communication%20experience%20of%20individuals%20treated%20with%20home%20mechanical%20ventilation.
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:26:28
date last changed
2022-04-21 21:41:47
@article{cf70b551-953e-41f2-b576-8aa94ae43556,
  abstract     = {{Background: Mechanical ventilatory support seriously affects speaking and communication, and earlier studies show that many ventilator-supported patients experience difficulties and frustration with their speech and voice production. Since there is a growing number of individuals who require mechanical ventilatory support and there is a paucity of studies that examine ventilator-supported communication, this research area needs to be developed to ensure adequate health services for this population. The present study focused on ventilator-supported communication from the point of view of individuals receiving home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Aims: The specific aim was to examine the communication experience of individuals receiving HMV. Methods & Procedures: A qualitative approach was adopted for this study, and data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to structure, condense and interpret the data. The participants were recruited from the National Respiratory Centre (NRC) in Sweden, and included 19 individuals receiving HMV. Outcomes & Results: The main theme A long and lonely struggle to find a voice and six subthemes detailing different facets of it emerged from data analysis: Managing changed speech conditions, Prioritising voice, A third party supporting communication, Using communication to get things done, Depending on technology, and Facing ignorance. Important aspects influencing the ventilator-supported individuals' communicative performance (speech, support from others and technological solutions) are discussed. Conclusions & Implications: The study revealed that healthcare practitioners involved in the care of individuals receiving HMV need to improve their understanding and knowledge of issues related to ventilator-supported communication. Individuals receiving HMV encounter a needlessly long and lonely struggle to achieve effective communication. They face numerous challenges regarding their communication, and they need to be heard in both literal and figurative senses. To overcome these challenges they need support from competent healthcare practitioners and personal assistants, and continuous follow-up by speech and language therapists tailoring communicative solutions to fit individual needs.}},
  author       = {{Laakso, Katja and Markström, Agneta and Idvall, Markus and Havstam, Christina and Hartelius, Lena}},
  issn         = {{1368-2822}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{686--699}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders}},
  title        = {{Communication experience of individuals treated with home mechanical ventilation.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00040.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1460-6984.2011.00040.x}},
  volume       = {{46}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}