Eye-Tracking in Communication Use for Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Communication
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Effective communication is critical for mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Ineffective communication can lead to patient distress and safety risks.
• Eye-tracking technology offers a promising solution for non-verbal communication in ICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on eye-tracking technology applications for mechanically ventilated patients.
• To identify current uses and characteristics of eye-tracking in ICU communication.
• To guide future research directions in this specialized field.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus).
• The search covered literature from database inception up to January 23, 2025.
• Included studies were summarized and analyzed to synthesize findings.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Eye-tracking technology was primarily used for communicating patient needs and symptom assessment.
• Key outcome indicators included communication feasibility, patient satisfaction, psychosocial status, and somatic symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Eye-tracking devices effectively facilitate communication of basic needs and symptom assessment in ICUs.
• These devices enable personalized non-verbal communication and objective symptom evaluation.
• Future research should focus on device enhancement and large-scale, multicenter trials for validation.