Effect of auditory stimulation on consciousness in coma patients with head injury: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Context: Brain injury can cause coma and organized auditory stimulation (OAS) is thought to be associated with improvements in the level of consciousness. Aims: Determine of the effect of OAS on levels of consciousness in comatose patients with head injury Setting and Design: This study was a randomized clinical trial and conducted from July 2012 to February 2013 in the Panje Azar Hospital of Gorgan, Iran. Materials and Methods: The patients from critical care units were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups, each group 20 patients. The intervention group underwent OAS using a nurse's voice who tried to call the patients' attention to their place, time, identification, family, and profession. This stimulation was conducted thrice daily for 10 days, and patient consciousness was measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Statistical Analysis Used: We used mean and standard deviation, Chi square, t test, and repeated measures to analysis of data. Results: The level of consciousness increased in both intervention and control groups, but the increase in the intervention group was more than the control group (P Conclusion: The level of consciousness of patients improved following an organized OAS by the nurses. Therefore, OAS likely will be a useful and applicable intervention for patients in Intensive Care Units.