Asian Pacific Journal of Nursing

EFFECT OF COMMUNICATION BOARD ON SELECTED PARAMETERS OF COMFORT IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF PUNE

MRS. SHARADA RAKESH CHAVAN

sharadul@gmail.com

Communication Board, Mechanically Ventilated Patients, Comfort

Mechanical ventilation with positive pressure ventilation is a technique that has been employed in the intensive care unit (ICU) with increasing frequency since 1960. This patient population has clearly more different needs and resource consumption patterns than patients in acute ICUs. But, patients with mechanical ventilation are unable to speak while being dependent on others for their physical needs. Aim: to determine the effect of selected alternative communication technique on comfort level of patients with mechanical ventilation. Objectives: 1. To assess the base line data of selected parameters of comfort in experimental and control groups. 2. To assess the post intervention data on selected parameters of comfort. 3. To compare the selected parameters of comfort between experimental and control groups. Methodology: The researcher has used quantitative approach and quasi experimental design for the present study. 40 mechanically ventilated patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of being conscious, with mechanical ventilation (invasive or noninvasive), have good vision, can read and understand English and/or Marathi, and have good hearing ability admitted in selected hospital of Pune city were selected using purposive sampling technique. Tool: Demographic profile, Rating Scale on subjective assessment of comfort by patients, Visual Analogue Scale of comfort, and Physiological parameter – Heart rate. The reliability of the tools was calculated by Cronbach’s alpha method. All tools were highly reliable. The data was analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: There was significant difference between experimental and control groups with respect to post intervention level of comfort. Conclusion: The study results will be very useful for the patients with inability to communicate can reduce their stress by using this communication board to express themselves. It will also help the nurses to identify various forms of needs of mechanically ventilated patients, so they can take measures to fulfill them