The Effect of Family Guided Visits on the Level of Consciousness in Traumatic Brain Injury

Sensory stimulation in patients with a decreased level of consciousness in the intensive care unit (ICU) can affect the level of consciousness. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effect of family guided visits on the level of consciousness in traumatic brain injury patients admitted to ICU. A cluster randomization design was used. Patients were divided into the two groups. The patients in the intervention group were visited daily by a trained member of a family receiving touch and auditory stimulations for 14 days. The control group met the patients regularly every day for 30 minutes each day. The level of consciousness was measured 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the visits using the Glascow Coma Scale (GCS). The repeated measured ANOVA results revealed that the mean scores of GCS have significantly increased over time (from the first day to the fourteenth day) in the intervention group (p<0.001) and the control group (p<0.001). The increase in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001). Structured and guided family meeting could improve the level of consciousness of the comatose patients. It is recommended that the closest family members, with adequate training, perform sensory stimulation program at the proper time.