title: The Glasgow Coma Score: reliable evidence?
abstract: The Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) is an important factor in the management and prognosis of a patient with neurosurgical pathology. We have found that there is often a disparity between the quoted and actual GCS of patients referred to this unit. We performed a prospective observational study to determine the proportion of patients referred with a correct GCS. Forty-two (51%) out of a total of 82 patients had a correct GCS on referral. The proportion of patients referred with a correct GCS did not vary with either the grade or speciality of the referring doctor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crossman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bankes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhan
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Crockard
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity