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Patient Empowerment Through Digital Voice Pens: A Feasibility Study
Tobias J Brix1, Jonas Hoffacker1, Philipp Neuhaus1
1Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Münster, Germany.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|May 27, 2021
Summary
Digital voice pens offer a solution for patients unable to read medical forms or questionnaires. This study found good usability and acceptance for these assistive reading devices in a simulated clinical setting.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Reading is crucial for patients completing administrative forms and patient-reported outcome questionnaires.
- Illiteracy, low vision, or language barriers prevent some patients from reading essential medical documents.
- Empowering patients to read independently enhances self-reliance and treatment adherence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and usability of digital voice pens for patients with reading impairments.
- To assess the potential of digital voice pens in improving patient understanding of medical information.
- To explore the application of digital voice pens in clinical routine, particularly for questionnaires.
Main Methods:
- A feasibility study utilized the tiptoi digital voice pen and tttool application.
- A schematic questionnaire was designed, requiring the digital voice pen to read aloud questions.
- Usability was measured using the System Usability Scale with 15 volunteers.
Main Results:
- Digital voice pens were programmed to read placeholder texts, simulating foreign languages or illiteracy.
- The system successfully supported the reading of questionnaire items.
- Volunteers rated the usability and acceptance of digital voice pens as "Good" in the study setting.
Conclusions:
- Digital voice pens demonstrate potential as an assistive technology for patients facing reading challenges.
- These devices can enhance patient empowerment by facilitating independent comprehension of medical texts.
- Further research can explore broader clinical applications and integration into routine patient care.
