Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 14, Number 8 > Pp. 415-420

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RESEARCH Original articles

Service users' acceptability of videoconferencing as a form of service delivery

Victoria Styles 

Communication Aid Centre, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK

Correspondence: Victoria Styles, Communication Aid Centre, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK (Fax: +44 1179 186 558; Email: Victoria.styles{at}nbt.nhs.uk)

We conducted a study of videoconferencing for delivering an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) service. AAC is a clinical field that attempts to compensate for the impairment and disability of people with severe expressive communication disorders. A total of 12 participant groups trialled initial AAC assessments via videoconference at a bandwidth of 768 kbit/s. The participant groups consisted of the client, the assessing speech and language therapist, and those who accompanied them to the session (usually their local speech and language therapist and any relatives or carers). Six of these groups progressed to receive review appointments. Following each of the sessions, all of the participants completed a questionnaire. Participants indicated an 88% satisfaction with the videoconference assessment session and a 95% satisfaction with review videoconference sessions. Clients provided the most positive feedback in their questionnaires, while the speech and language therapists were the most critical of the process. The findings suggest that an AAC service can be delivered effectively by videoconference.

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