The purpose of this study was to test the interrater reliability of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) when used in assessing neurologically impaired patients. In order to control variables, a videotape was developed of seven patients with different neurological impairments. A total of 57 nurses and physicians with varying degrees of education and experience used the GCS to score the patient responses. These responses were then compared for consensus and against a criterion standard. The comparison showed a low disagreement rating and a moderate to high agreement rating demonstrating that this tool has good interrater reliability (p = 0.000). Nurses may use this tool with confidence as one measure of assessment in evaluating neurologically impaired patients.
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Juarez et al. (1995) studied this question.