Duffy Orla, Synnott Jonathan, McNaney Roisin, Brito Zambrano Paola, Kernohan W George
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.
Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey, United Kingdom.
JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol. 2021 Mar 11;8(1):e23006. doi: 10.2196/23006.
Speech problems are common in people living with Parkinson disease (PD), limiting communication and ultimately affecting their quality of life. Voice-assisted technology in health and care settings has shown some potential in small-scale studies to address such problems, with a retrospective analysis of user reviews reporting anecdotal communication effects and promising usability features when using this technology for people with a range of disabilities. However, there is a need for research to establish users' perspectives on the potential contribution of voice-assisted technology for people with PD.
This study aims to explore the attitudes toward the use of voice-assisted technology for people with PD.
A survey was approved for dissemination by a national charity, Parkinson's UK, to be completed on the web by people living with the condition. The survey elicited respondent demographics, PD features, voice difficulties, digital skill capability, smart technology use, voice-assisted technology ownership and use, confidentiality, and privacy concerns. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and summative content analysis of free-text responses.
Of 290 participants, 79.0% (n=229) indicated that they or others had noticed changes in their speech or voice because of the symptoms of their condition. Digital skills and awareness were reported on 11 digital skills such as the ability to find a website you have visited before. Most participants (n=209, 72.1%) reported being able to perform at least 10 of these 11 tasks. Similarly, of 70.7% (n=205) participants who owned a voice-assisted device, most of them (166/205, 80.9%) used it regularly, with 31.3% (52/166) reporting that they used the technology specifically to address the needs associated with their PD. Of these 166 users, 54.8% (n=91) sometimes, rarely, or never had to repeat themselves when using the technology. When asked about speech changes since they started using it, 25% (27/108) of participants noticed having to repeat themselves less and 14.8% (16/108) perceived their speech to be clearer. Of the 290 respondents, 90.7% (n=263) were not concerned, or only slightly concerned, about privacy and confidentiality.
Having been added to the homes of Western society, domestic voice assist devices are now available to assist those with communication problems. People with PD reported a high digital capability, albeit those who responded to a web-based survey. Most people have embraced voice-assisted technology, find it helpful and usable, and some have found benefit to their speech. Speech and language therapists may have a virtual ally that is already in the patient's home to support future therapy provision.
言语问题在帕金森病（PD）患者中很常见，这限制了交流，并最终影响他们的生活质量。健康和护理环境中的语音辅助技术在小规模研究中已显示出解决此类问题的一些潜力，一项对用户评论的回顾性分析报告了轶事性的交流效果以及在将该技术用于一系列残疾人士时具有前景的可用性特征。然而，需要开展研究以确立用户对语音辅助技术对PD患者潜在贡献的看法。
本研究旨在探索PD患者对使用语音辅助技术的态度。
一项调查经英国帕金森病慈善机构批准进行传播，由PD患者在网上完成。该调查收集了受访者的人口统计学信息、PD特征、语音困难、数字技能能力、智能技术使用情况、语音辅助技术的拥有和使用情况、保密性以及隐私担忧。使用描述性统计和对自由文本回复的总结性内容分析对数据进行分析。
在290名参与者中，79.0%（n = 229）表示他们自己或其他人注意到由于病情症状导致的言语或声音变化。报告了11项数字技能方面的数字技能和意识，例如找到之前访问过的网站的能力。大多数参与者（n = 209，72.1%）报告能够完成这11项任务中的至少10项。同样，在拥有语音辅助设备的70.7%（n = 205）参与者中，大多数人（166/205，80.9%）经常使用它，31.3%（52/166）报告他们专门使用该技术来满足与PD相关的需求。在这166名用户中，54.8%（n = 91）在使用该技术时有时、很少或从不重复自己的话。当被问及自开始使用该技术以来的言语变化时，25%（27/108）的参与者注意到重复自己的话的次数减少，14.8%（16/108）感觉自己的言语更清晰。在290名受访者中，90.7%（n = 263）不担心或只是略有担心隐私和保密性。
家用语音辅助设备已进入西方社会家庭，现在可用于帮助有交流问题的人。PD患者报告了较高的数字能力，尽管是那些对基于网络的调查做出回应的人。大多数人接受了语音辅助技术，认为它有帮助且易于使用，一些人还发现它对自己的言语有好处。言语和语言治疗师可能有一个已经在患者家中的虚拟盟友来支持未来的治疗服务。
