Purpose

To identify outcome measurement tools used to evaluate communication, voice and speech intelligibility in the mechanically ventilated ICU population. Secondly, to evaluate, synthesise and compare the clinimetric properties of the tools identified.

Materials and methods

A systematic review of articles was undertaken via electronic databases in two parts. Eligibility criteria for selection: part one – quantitative or mixed methods studies which assessed communication, voice or speech intelligibility; part two – studies which evaluated a clinimetric property for one of the tools identified in part one. Two independent reviewers assessed articles for inclusion and used the consensus-based standards for health status measurement instruments (COSMIN) risk of bias checklist.

Results

The part one search yielded five included studies comprised of eight outcome measurement tools. The part two search yielded 22 included studies comprised of nine tools. Few studies had adequate reliability and measurement error properties. No studies established responsiveness. A notable proportion of studies utilised tools that have no clinimetric properties.

Conclusions

There is a relatively small number of studies which have established clinimetric properties for outcome measurement tools that evaluate communication, voice and/or speech intelligibility, and a fewer number which have done so in the mechanically ventilated ICU population.

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