Prosthetic Reconstruction, Rehabilitation & Surgical Planning —
Training activity: 18

Details

Plan, design and manufacture a custom-made device to support a patient post laryngectomy to improve speech and communication and evaluate against treatment goals

Type

Developmental training activity (DTA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.

Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.

An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• What types of devices are available to support speech post-laryngectomy?
• How will you evaluate the effectiveness of the device?
• What other healthcare professionals may be involved in the care of a patient requiring a custom-made device
• What will you learn about the anatomical and physiological changes following a laryngectomy and their impact on speech?
• What design principles are important for creating a device that effectively improves communication?
• How will you assess the patient’s needs and evaluate the device against their goals?
• Have you researched different methods of communication post-laryngectomy and the prosthetic devices used?
• Have you discussed the patient’s specific needs and treatment goals with the multidisciplinary team?
• Have you considered different materials and manufacturing techniques?

In action

• During the planning, design, and manufacture of the device, are you focusing on the specific challenges a post-laryngectomy patient faces with speech and communication? What immediate design and manufacturing decisions are you making to optimise the device for the patient’s needs? Are you considering different methods of speech rehabilitation as you progress?
• Is your planning process effectively translating the patient’s communication needs into a functional device design? Are you facing any challenges in manufacturing a device that is both effective and comfortable for the patient to use? What immediate insights are you gaining into the impact of laryngectomy on communication and the role of prosthetic support? How does this activity build upon your understanding of head and neck anatomy and speech rehabilitation techniques?
• If the initial device design is not proving effective in improving the patient’s speech or is uncomfortable to use, what alternative designs or materials are you considering in real-time? Do you need to seek advice from speech therapists or specialists in laryngectomy rehabilitation? Are you ensuring that your design and manufacturing are patient-centred and based on best practices?

On action

• Describe the specific needs of the patient post laryngectomy that necessitated the custom-made device. What considerations influenced your planning and design to improve speech and communication? Describe the manufacturing process of the device. How did you evaluate the device against the treatment goals for improving speech and communication? What was the patient’s feedback?
• What specific skills or knowledge did you develop or improve in planning, designing, manufacturing, and evaluating custom-made devices for post-laryngectomy speech improvement? What did you learn about the impact of laryngectomy on speech and communication and potential prosthetic solutions? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes during the process or the evaluation? What did you learn from these? How effective was the custom device in meeting the patient’s needs and treatment goals?
• What areas for continued development have you identified in creating devices for post-laryngectomy rehabilitation? How can you apply the knowledge and skills gained to future cases with similar needs? What resources or support might you need to further develop in this area, such as understanding speech rehabilitation techniques?

Beyond action

• Have you revisited experiences with post-laryngectomy communication devices? How has your understanding of the physiological and psychological challenges faced by these patients evolved?
• How have these experiences impacted upon your current practice in designing devices that improve speech and quality of life for patients with communication difficulties? Are you more aware of different communication methods?
• How might these experiences contribute towards your future practice in developing innovative solutions for voice rehabilitation or collaborating with speech and language therapists? What did you learn about device ergonomics and patient training?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Deliver quality patient centred care with the best interests of patients in all elements of practice.
# 2	Outcome Practice in accordance with local and national health and safety policies, regulatory requirements and overall service governance.
# 3	Outcome Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
# 4	Outcome Identify patients who need further specialist support and refer to the appropriate healthcare specialist.
# 6	Outcome Perform clinical investigations, formulate treatment plans and manufacture medical devices to a safe clinical standard.
# 8	Outcome Select appropriate biomedical materials and components/instrumentation used in the treatment of patients and the manufacture of custom-made medical devices.
# 9	Outcome Practice in partnership with other clinical specialisms as part of a multidisciplinary team and understand their roles and their impact on patient care and pathway.
# 10	Outcome Apply the principals of a quality management system to their professional practice.
# 12	Outcome Assess and interpret patients’ needs to provide customised treatment dependent on medical, physical, social and psychological requirements.