Feedback during patient‐controlled analgesia using a speech synthesiser

Abstract

Patients who use on‐demand analgesia prefer voice feedback rather than buzzer tones to indicate operation of the apparatus. Twenty‐four patients had experience of a patient‐controlled analgesia apparatus which incorporated a sophisticated feedback of buzzer tones and a speech synthesiser. Of those who expressed a preference, fifteen preferred the speech synthesiser and only one preferred the buzzer tones. The speech synthesiser is a reliable, inexpensive and simple method of supplying feedback to patients when such apparatus is used. Copyright © 1987, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved