What is the purpose of the Glasgow Coma Scale?

The Glasgow Coma Scale is specifically designed to assess a patient's level of consciousness following a traumatic brain injury or other neurological events. It evaluates three key aspects: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. By assigning a score based on these responses, healthcare providers can determine the severity of a patient's cognitive impairment and monitor changes in their condition over time. This scale is crucial in emergency settings, where rapid assessment of neurological function can direct immediate treatment decisions and interventions.

In contrast, assessing a patient’s response to medications, measuring the effectiveness of CPR, or evaluating pain levels does not pertain to the primary function of the Glasgow Coma Scale, which is solely focused on gauging consciousness levels.