OBJECTIVES: To create a voice assistant for patients with upper limb motor impairment during the acute phase of institutional care. To assess its functionality and user-friendliness among patients with high tetraplegia. METHOD: The Hugo voice assistant was developed to enable the use of a telephone, television, medical bed, and other devices through voice commands in Czech without the need for eye contact with the tablet's screen. The screen is utilized only for system setup and to check the functions, which the nursing staff can manage. Following an extensive risk analysis and the establishment of control mechanisms, a pilot study was conducted to monitor the usage of the voice assistant and its advantages and disadvantages. RESULTS: Ten patients with an average age of 45.6 years participated in the study. All completed a questionnaire consisting of 23 questions. Most commonly, they began using the voice assistant within a week of receiving it, averaging 10 to 20 commands per day. The most frequent uses included calling medical staff and contacting loved ones while controlling the television or bed ranked third. Eight patients reported that the assistant had a positive impact on their psychological well-being, highlighting enhanced security and improved self-sufficiency as the most significant benefits. CONCLUSION: The voice assistant is a valuable tool for patients with upper limb movement disorders caused by cervical spinal cord injury during the acute phase of hospitalization. It can help reduce social isolation and enhance psychological well-being following such significant physical and mental trauma.

The voice assistant provides an interface for controlling electronic devices used for communication, information access, and controlling the environment.Using a voice assistant in people with high tetraplegia reduces dependence on the environment and promotes a positive self-perception.In the acute phase following spinal cord injury, the ability to control electronic devices enhances psychological well-being and increases the sense of security.Developing a custom voice assistant for a specific purpose reduces the risk of incorrect commands, complicated settings, and extensive training.

Cisco Systems s r o Czech Republic

Spinal Cord Unit Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine University Hospital Motol Prague Czech Republic

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