![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
Primary objective: To establish the reliability and validity of the Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART) as a tool for discriminating awareness in patients with profound brain damage.
Research design: A comparative prospective study was conducted.
Method and procedures: Sixty subjects diagnosed in vegetative state (VS) on admission were assessed at 2-monthly intervals. Rancho level ratings derived from referring physicians, SMART and Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) scores were compared.
Main outcomes and results: The intra-observer intra class correlation (ICC) was 0.97 and inter-observer ICC was 0.96, implying very little within and between observer scoring variations. A modest, although significant correlation was established between SMART and either physician or WNSSP scores. However, the correlation between the WNSSP and SMART was higher (r = 0.70) than that between WNSSP and physicians scores (r = 0.451) or between SMART and physicians (r = 0.474).
Conclusion: SMART is a valid and reliable assessment for discriminating awareness in VS and Minimally Conscious State (MCS).
