Evaluation of assessment instruments used on children presenting with altered level of consciousness.
OBJECTIVE
To compare current care with a proposed gold standard (formal coma scale use) for assessment of children presenting with altered consciousness.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.


METHODS
One hundred and seventy children consecutively admitted to the hospital.


METHODS
Proportion of children assessed using a formal coma scale (gold standard) while presenting with altered consciousness.


RESULTS
Findings revealed that only 8% of children were assessed using the formal coma scale at admission. The level of neurological deficit was described using general and potentially misleading descriptive terms rather than formal coma scales.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a formal coma scale and relevant simple investigations were seldom used. The quality of care of children admitted to the hospital with altered consciousness standard would benefit from defining and implementing management guidelines (protocols).
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
P W
PW
Njuguna
D P
DP
Oyatsi
M
M
English
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies