Assessments of the patients who underwent partial laryngectomy regarding Communication Quide

This research study was conducted to develop a "Visual Communication Guide" to solve patients' who underwent laryngectomy communications problems and to determine the contribution of this communication guide in handling such communication problems. This research was carried out with a mixed method approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative research methods. In the study, which was conducted by 14 patients who have undergone partial laryngectomy for the first time, qualitative data were collected by "in-depth interviews" method in accordance with the "phenomenology" research design. A questionnaire was utilized to collect quantitative data,in accordance with the descriptive research method. As a result of the analysis of qualitative data, the following three main themes were determined: "experience of being unable to speak, the effect of the Communication Guide, feelings and thoughts regarding the Communication Guide". As a result of the analysis of quantitative data, all of the patients were fully satisfied with clarity and color of the pictures and font size of the text; while almost all of the patients have stated that the guide was useful and the size of the pictures, form of the texts, and the problems discussed were adequate. Three quarters of the patients consider the size of the guide as sufficient and half of the patients were satisfied with the number of pictures in the guide. However, some patients disliked the binding style of the guide. All of the patients found the guide adequate to express themselves to their relatives and health personnel. Almost all of the patients consider the guide sufficient their problems/ requests, while 4/5 of the patients consider the guide sufficient to share their emotions. As a result ofthis study, it was concluded that the Communication Guide can be effective and usable for communication efforts of the patients withpartial laryngectomy. Key words: Visual communication guide, nursing, laryngectomy, qualitativestudy, non-verbal communication