Korean J Adult Nurs.  2021 Dec;33(6):649-656. 10.7475/kjan.2021.33.6.649.

Effects of a Multimodal Sensory Stimulation Intervention on Glasgow Coma Scale Scores in Stroke Patients with Unconsciousness

• Ekan F
• Siti F
• Yusup D
• Listyana Natalia R
• Paulinus Deny K
• S

• KMID: 2524783
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2021.33.6.649

Abstract

Purpose
This study investigated how multimodal sensory stimulation affected Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores in stroke patients with decreased consciousness at Dr. Moewardi Hospital in Surakarta, Indonesia.
Methods
We employed a quasi-experimental approach with a pretest and posttest control group design. The control and intervention groups each contained 22 participants, all of whom were recruited via convenience sampling. The intervention group was given multimodal sensory stimulation (auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile) five times daily for a total of five days, with each session lasting 25 minutes. By contrast, the control group only received routine care from the hospital (i.e., no intervention). For statistical analysis, we used both the Wilcoxon test and Mann-Whitney test.
Results
We found a significant increase in posttest GCS scores for the intervention group (from 9.63 to 13.18, p=.001), but there was no significant increase for the control group (from 10.09 to 10.54, p=.085).
Conclusion
In this study, multimodal sensory stimulation effectively increased GCS scores in stroke patients with decreased consciousness. Nurses can use this intervention to improve sensory and GCS scores for such patients while in the intensive care unit.

Keyword

Glasgow coma scale; Combined modality therapy; Stroke; Unconsciousness