Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness
Introduction In spite of the rapid development in various communication-support technologies for those waking up from a coma, studies describing the sole process of reconstructing communication in this group of patients are scarce. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze communication reacti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Rural Health
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Nonverbal-communication-of-trauma-patients-in-minimal-consciousness-state,91911,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1819098293613887488 |
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| author | Anna Rasmus Jolanta Góral-Półrola Edyta Orłowska Monika Wiłkość-Dębczyńska Celestyna Grzywniak |
| author_facet | Anna Rasmus Jolanta Góral-Półrola Edyta Orłowska Monika Wiłkość-Dębczyńska Celestyna Grzywniak |
| author_sort | Anna Rasmus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
In spite of the rapid development in various communication-support technologies for those waking up from a coma, studies describing the sole process of reconstructing communication in this group of patients are scarce.
Objective
The aim of this study was to analyze communication reactions in a minimal state of consciousness and describe the nonverbal behaviours characteristic for each stages significant for the therapy of communication.
Material and methods
18 severely brain-injured patients in a minimal state of consciousness participated in the half-year observation study, which included people experiencing at least 4 weeks of consciousness disorder/coma. Age of patients 25±5 years. Psychological assessment included: observation of various attempts of communications undertaken by patients, caregivers and family interview, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Individual Communication Sheet.
Results
Data analysis showed a significant increase in preverbal communication, both in primal and sensory areas when compared between Stage II (GCS=6–8 points) and Stage III (GCS=9–12 points). After a time, primary communication reached a high level. Patients produced communication attempts from the behaviour organization level, and an increase in the nonverbal communication level was noted. Based on observations, nonverbal communication profiles for each stage of waking up from a coma were introduced.
Conclusions
It was found that in the process of waking up from a coma the patients communicate with the use of the preverbal level of primal communication, the sensory and behaviour organization activities. The characteristics of the communication reactions show that in Stage III there is a significant increase in two preverbal communication areas: primal and sensory acts, when compared with Stage II. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:28:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e40672174ed4f8ab5cd0295bee4d481 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1232-1966 1898-2263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T00:28:41Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Rural Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e40672174ed4f8ab5cd0295bee4d4812022-12-21T18:44:59ZengInstitute of Rural HealthAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine1232-19661898-22632019-06-0126230430810.26444/aaem/9191191911Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousnessAnna Rasmus0Jolanta Góral-Półrola1Edyta Orłowska2Monika Wiłkość-Dębczyńska3Celestyna Grzywniak4Department of Psychology, UKW, Bydgoszcz, PolandOld Polish University, Kielce, PolandOld Polish University, Kielce, PolandDepartment of Psychology, UG,Gdansk, PolandPedagogical University, Krakow, PolandIntroduction In spite of the rapid development in various communication-support technologies for those waking up from a coma, studies describing the sole process of reconstructing communication in this group of patients are scarce. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze communication reactions in a minimal state of consciousness and describe the nonverbal behaviours characteristic for each stages significant for the therapy of communication. Material and methods 18 severely brain-injured patients in a minimal state of consciousness participated in the half-year observation study, which included people experiencing at least 4 weeks of consciousness disorder/coma. Age of patients 25±5 years. Psychological assessment included: observation of various attempts of communications undertaken by patients, caregivers and family interview, the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Individual Communication Sheet. Results Data analysis showed a significant increase in preverbal communication, both in primal and sensory areas when compared between Stage II (GCS=6–8 points) and Stage III (GCS=9–12 points). After a time, primary communication reached a high level. Patients produced communication attempts from the behaviour organization level, and an increase in the nonverbal communication level was noted. Based on observations, nonverbal communication profiles for each stage of waking up from a coma were introduced. Conclusions It was found that in the process of waking up from a coma the patients communicate with the use of the preverbal level of primal communication, the sensory and behaviour organization activities. The characteristics of the communication reactions show that in Stage III there is a significant increase in two preverbal communication areas: primal and sensory acts, when compared with Stage II.http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Nonverbal-communication-of-trauma-patients-in-minimal-consciousness-state,91911,0,2.htmlTraumatic brain injuryconsciousnesscomamicrogenetic theorybody language |
| spellingShingle | Anna Rasmus Jolanta Góral-Półrola Edyta Orłowska Monika Wiłkość-Dębczyńska Celestyna Grzywniak Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine Traumatic brain injury consciousness coma microgenetic theory body language |
| title | Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness |
| title_full | Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness |
| title_fullStr | Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness |
| title_short | Nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness |
| title_sort | nonverbal communication of trauma patients in a state of minimal consciousness |
| topic | Traumatic brain injury consciousness coma microgenetic theory body language |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Nonverbal-communication-of-trauma-patients-in-minimal-consciousness-state,91911,0,2.html |
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