Comparing effects of sensory stimulation by nurses and family members on unconscious patients with severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of sensory stimulation provided by nurses and family members respectively on waking up unconscious patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods A total of 92 unconscious patients with severe traumatic brain injury admitted in the Intensive Care Unit, Neurosurgery Department, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University between May 2016 and May 2017 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table. Patients in the control group received sensory stimulation by nurses, while patients in the observation group received sensory stimulation by family members. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP), Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLA) and electroencephalogram examination (EEG) scores were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. Results There was no statistical difference in the scores between the two groups before the sensory stimulation (P>0.05). Two weeks post the intervention, there were statistical differences between the control group and the observation group in GCS [(7.28±1.86) vs. (9.78±2.01)], WNSSP [(13.23±10.07) vs. (47.48±14.32)]and RLA [(2.15±0.98) vs. (3.20±1.30)]scores (P 0.05). Conclusions Sensory stimulation can enable the unconscious patients with severe traumatic brain injury to regain consciousness, cognitive and sensory functions. The sensory stimulation provided by caregivers is better than that by responsible nurses, and the former is better in accelerating the patients' rehabilitation. Key words: Brain injury; Coma, post-brain traumatic; Nurses; Caregivers; Sensory stimulation