Glasgow Coma Scale, a Predictor Factor toward Return to Work among Patients with Mild and Moderate Head Injury

Abstract

Most patients with mild or moderate head injury have been experiencing
symptoms of disability for several weeks to months, which can interfere with
the ability of return to work or perform social activities. Mild and moderate
head injury causes reversible lesions with complaints, and the complaint should
be used as preliminary data from the physical signs of the basis for subsequent
action. This study aims to determine the prognostic value of acute injury
characteristics based on GCS score on admission toward the ability return to
work among patients with mild and moderate head injury. This research is non-
experimental, with a cohort prospective research design, involving 60 patients
with mild and moderate head injury who admitted in the emergency department
Tugurejo Semarang General Hospital from July 2012 - February 2013. The
results of this study showed there was a significant correlation between GCS
score with the ability return to work at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months post-
treatment in a hospital (p=0,000), with positive correlation direction. For nurses
are expected to use the GCS score which is a predictor for mild and moderate
TBI patient outcome, and obtain priority treatment at the hospital with
appropriate procedure immediately. With proper handling the GCS score is
expected to provide economic value to patients by shortening the length of stay.