title: Quality of life improves with return of voice in tracheostomy patients in intensive care: An observational study.
abstract: To measure patient-reported change of mood, communication-related quality of life, and general health status with return of voice among mechanically ventilated tracheostomy patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
  
  
  
  A prospective observational study in a tertiary ICU was conducted. Communication-related quality of life was measured daily using the Visual Analogue Self-Esteem Scale. General health status was measured weekly using the EuroQol-5D.
  
  
  
  Aspects of communication self-esteem that significantly improved with the return of voice were ability to be understood by others (P = .006) and cheerfulness (P = .04), both with a median difference from before to after return of voice of 1 on the 5-point scale. Return of voice was not associated with a significant improvement in confidence, sense of outgoingness, anger, sense of being trapped, optimism, or frustration. Reported general health status did not significantly improve.
  
  
  
  Return of voice was associated with significant improvement in patient reported self-esteem, particularly in being understood by others and in cheerfulness. Improved self-esteem may also improve quality of life; however, further research is needed to confirm this relationship. Early restoration of voice should be investigated as a way to improve the experience of ICU for tracheostomy patients.
authors.affiliation: Speech Pathology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia; Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: Amy.freeman-sanderson@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Freeman-Sanderson
authors.affiliation: Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Togher
authors.affiliation: Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Education & Workforce Development, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Phipps
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001044:Aphonia / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia; D003422:Critical Care; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: Communication; Intensive care; Quality of life; Respiration—artificial; Speech-language pathology; Tracheostomy