Outcomes of family‐centred auditory and tactile stimulation implementation on traumatic brain injured patients

AIM: To determine the outcomes of Family‐centred Auditory and Tactile Stimulation Implementation on Traumatic Brain Injured Patients in Egypt. BACKGROUND: Family engagement in the care of their relatives in the Intensive care units is limited due to patients' life‐threatening conditions, in addition to the use of high technology in these settings. Auditory and tactile sensory stimulations are among the diverse sensory stimulations that have received more attention in brain injured patients than other senses as being considered safe, and effective measures. DESIGN: A Quasi‐experimental design was used to test the hypotheses of this study. METHODS: A convenience sample of 60 adult patients suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury and admitted to the intensive care units of two University Hospitals in Egypt was included in the study. Patients were assigned into two equal groups: control and study groups (30 patients each). The auditory and tactile stimulations were provided by trained family members, once daily for 2 weeks for the study group. Whereas routine communication was provided by the family of traumatic brain injured patients in the ICU for the control group. Two tools were used for data collection; tool one, the “Glasgow Coma Scale” to assess patient's level of consciousness, and tool two the “Physiological Adverse Events Assessment” to monitor patients for the occurrence of physiological adverse events. Data collection: January to October 2019. RESULTS: The implementation of an organized auditory and tactile stimulation by trained family members is associated with highly statistically significant positive effects . Patients in the study group showed a higher mean of consciousness, lower incidence rate of physiological adverse events, and a lower mean duration of ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an organized auditory and tactile stimulation by trained family members enhanced the consciousness level of comatose Traumatic Brain Injured patients, decreased the occurrence of physiological adverse events, and ICU length of stay. Thus, it is recommended for use in the daily routine nursing care of comatose Traumatic Brain Injured patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study gives a deeper understanding of how family engagement in the care of their critically ill relative enhances their recovery and improve their level of consciousness.