title: Gaze-controlled, computer-assisted communication in Intensive Care Unit: "speaking through the eyes".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a gaze-controlled communication system (eye tracker, ET) can improve communication processes between completely dysarthric ICU patients and the hospital staff, in three main domains: 1) basic communication processes (i.e., fundamental needs, desire, and wishes); 2) the ability of the medical staff to understand the clinical condition of the patient; and 3) the level of frustration experienced by patient, nurses and physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen fully conscious medical and surgical patients, 8 physicians, and 15 nurses were included in the study. The experimental procedure was composed by three phases: in phase 1 all groups completed the preintervention questionnaire; in phase 2 the ET was introduced and tested as a communication device; in phase 3 all groups completed the postintervention questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients preintervention questionnaires showed remarkable communication deficits, without any group effect. Answers of physicians and nurses were pretty much similar to the one of patients. Postintervention questionnaires showed in all groups a remarkable and statistically significant improvement in different communication domains, as well as a remarkable decrease of anxiety and disphoric thought. Improvement was also reported by physicians and nurses in their ability to understand patient's clinical conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show an improvement in the quality of the examined parameters. Better communication processes seem also to lead to improvements in several psychological parameters, namely anxiety and drop-out depression perceived by both patients and medical staff. Further controlled studies are needed to define the ET role in ICU.
authors.affiliation: Anthea Hospital, GVM Care and Research, Bari, Italy. fmaringelli@gvmnet.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maringelli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brienza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scorrano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gregoretti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D003201:Computers; D003422:Critical Care; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult