Table 1.
Communication outcomes – measurement glossary.
| Variable | Operational definition |
|---|---|
| Frequencya | (a) Mean number of communication acts/exchange, (b) Mean number of communication exchanges/3-min session; (c) Patient initiated exchanges; (d) Patient acts/exchange |
| Successa | 1 = no communication response when one is obligated |
| 2 = message attempted but not conveyed or abandoned | |
| 3 = message partially conveyed (partner has to interpret to obtain partial meaning, partner has to clarify) | |
| 4 = message conveyed with adequate partner response indicating comprehension of basic meaning | |
| 5 = message conveyed with elaborated partner response (action or verbal) indicating complete comprehension of entire message (basic idea plus details) | |
| NA = message did not obligate a response | |
| Qualitya | Sum of positive, facilitative communication behaviors by nurse during communication acts versus sum of negative, communication-inhibiting nurse behaviors for 3-min session |
| Positive nurse behaviors | (1) Asks tagged yes–no questions, (2) Provides response choices, (3) Physically assists patients, (4) Suggests mode of communication, (5) Repeats patient response, (6) Augments comprehension, (7) Repeats for clarification, (8) Greets patient by name/touch, (9) Asks open ended questions when patient has method to respond, (10) Makes eye contact |
| Negative nurse behaviors | (1) Removes AAC system inappropriately (i.e., out-of-reach or before patient finished), (2) Does not gain patient's attention before interaction, (3) Does not provide assistance when needed, (4) Asks questions that patient can't answer, (4) Ignores patient communication attempt, (5) Does not provide opportunity for patient response (pause time), (6) Interrupts patient's message, (7) Does not gain patient's attention, (8) Self talk, mumbling (9) Speaks too rapidly, (10) Does not look at patient during interaction |
| AAC use | Sum of acts (events) using augmentative and alternative communication tools to convey a message per communication exchange |
| Easea | Patient's self-report on a scale of 1 (not difficult at all) to 5 (extremely difficult) at the end of each video-recorded observation session. The categories were collapsed for analysis into three levels: low (=1, 2), medium (=3), and high (=4, 5) difficulty. |
AAC = augmentative and alternative communication.
a
Indicates main outcome variable.