Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39851438›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2025

Optimizing Neurobehavioral Assessment for Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: Proposal of a Comprehensive Pre-Assessment Checklist for Clinicians.

Kristen Keech, Caroline Schnakers, Brooke Murtaugh, Katherine O'Brien, Beth Slomine, Marie-Michèle Briand, Rita Formisano, Aurore Thibaut, Anna Estraneo, Enrique Noé and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Kristen KeechThe Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
Caroline SchnakersResearch Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA 91767, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1143-0658
Brooke MurtaughDepartment of Rehabilitation Programs, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals, Lincoln, NE 68506, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9434-7539
Katherine O'BrienTIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Beth SlomineBrain Injury Clinical Research Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Marie-Michèle BriandPhysical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, QC H4J 1C5, Canada.
Rita FormisanoIRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2516-0540
Aurore ThibautComa Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-5991-1747
Anna EstraneoIRCCS, Don Gnocchi Foundation, 50143 Florence, Italy.
Enrique NoéIRENEA Instituto de Rehabilitación Neurológica, Fundación Hospitales Vithas, 46011 Valencia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-2547-8727
Olivia GosseriesComa Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-9011-7496
Liliana da Conceição TeixeiraRISE-Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (TBIO), ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-9408-859X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClinicians are challenged by the ambiguity and uncertainty in assessing level of consciousness in individuals with disorder of consciousness (DoC). There are numerous challenges to valid and reliable neurobehavioral assessment and classification of DoC due to multiple environmental and patient-related biases including behavioral fluctuation and confounding or co-occurring medical conditions. Addressing these biases could impact accuracy of assessment and is an important aspect of the DoC assessment process.

methodsA pre-assessment checklist was developed by a group of interdisciplinary DoC clinical experts and researchers based on the existing literature, current validated tools, and expert opinions. Once finalized, the checklist was electronically distributed to clinicians with a range of experience in neurobehavioral assessment with DoC. Respondents were asked to use the checklist prior to completing a neurobehavioral assessment. A survey was also provided to respondents to obtain feedback regarding checklist feasibility and utility in optimizing the behavioral assessments.

resultsThirty-three clinicians completed the survey after using the checklist. Over half of the respondents were a combination of physicians, neuropsychologists, and physical therapists. All respondents served the adult DoC population and 42% percent had over ten years of clinical experience. Eighty percent reported they found the format of the checklist useful and easy to use. All respondents reported the checklist was relevant to preparing for behavioral assessment in the DoC population. Eighty-four percent reported they would recommend the use of the tool to other clinicians.

conclusionsThe use of a pre-assessment checklist was found to be feasible and efficacious in increasing interdisciplinary clinician's ability to optimize the patient and environment in preparation for neurobehavioral assessment. Initial results of clinicians' perception of the utility of a pre-assessment checklist were positive. However, further validation of the tool is needed with larger sample sizes to improve representation of clinical use across disciplines and care settings.

Indexed as

assessmentbrain injurydisorders of consciousnesssurvey

Identifiers

PMID39851438
PMCPMC11763646

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.