The assessment and rehabilitation of patients with disorders of consciousness represent a central and highly salient issue in both critical care medicine and rehabilitation medicine. Given the considerable room for improvement in China’s assessment scales for disorders of consciousness and their clinical application, as well as the pivotal role these assessments play in clinical decision-making, Nanjing Zijin Hospital is organizing a “Training Workshop on Assessment Scales for Disorders of Consciousness.” The workshop aims to establish a platform for learning and exchange, enhance the standardization of scale administration and the accuracy of scoring among clinical healthcare professionals, and lay a solid foundation for the further research and dissemination of domestically developed assessment tools.

This training program was thoughtfully structured to incorporate a variety of instructional formats, including theoretical lectures, hands-on demonstrations, sharing of clinical experience, in-depth case analyses, and live Q&A sessions. As a result, even the most complex and highly specialized concepts became much more accessible thanks to the experts’ engaging and vivid presentations. Each participant gained valuable insights and left thoroughly inspired.

Ge Jiangping, President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital

Under the distinguished chairmanship of Director Pan Xingming of Ward 102 at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, the training course on the assessment of disorders of consciousness was officially launched. In a warm and enthusiastic opening address, President Ge Jiangping of Nanjing Zijin Hospital extended a heartfelt welcome to all participants. He then provided a detailed overview of the hospital’s development since its establishment, highlighting its unwavering commitment to advancing the field of consciousness disorder assessment and treatment. President Ge emphasized that the hospital is dedicated to fostering innovation and progress in consciousness‑disorder assessment technologies, while actively fulfilling its social responsibilities and striving to deliver more precise and effective therapeutic care to patients.

Professor Qin Haidong, Nanjing First Hospital

Professor Qin Haidong, Director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Nanjing First Hospital, delivered a comprehensive and in-depth presentation on the assessment and treatment of critically ill patients in the ICU, covering multiple dimensions—including the critical importance of critical care rehabilitation, potential long-term sequelae, evaluation methodologies, as well as the timing and approaches to early rehabilitative interventions. Through his insightful case analyses and engaging, vivid delivery, coupled with years of unique experience and profound perspectives, Professor Qin captivated every attendee, leaving them thoroughly enriched and inspired.

Professor Zhang Wenbin, Nanjing Brain Hospital

Professor Zhang Wenbin of Nanjing Brain Hospital, who also serves as the deputy editor-in-chief and director of the editorial department of the Journal of Clinical Neurosurgery, leveraged his unique industry perspective and years of professional experience to deliver an in-depth presentation on medical paper writing. Through a series of case studies involving manuscript submission and peer review, he addressed key aspects such as writing methodologies, common pitfalls, and effective submission strategies. His talk enabled participants to gain a clear understanding of both the challenges and opportunities inherent in the paper‑writing process, while deepening their appreciation for the critical importance of data reliability, sound experimental design, and the careful identification and articulation of innovative contributions in medical research. In addition, Professor Zhang provided a detailed exposition on the role of neuromodulation technologies in the treatment of consciousness restoration, covering their advantages, underlying mechanisms, and procedural protocols.

Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital

During his lecture, Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital, began with fundamental concepts such as the definition of consciousness and proceeded to offer a clear, accessible analysis of the neuroanatomical underpinnings of consciousness and disorders of consciousness, thereby establishing for the participants a lucid and comprehensive framework for understanding consciousness. He also underscored the critical importance of the integrity of neural circuits underlying consciousness, emphasizing that contemporary treatments for disorders of consciousness can achieve more precise arousal‑promoting interventions by targeting specific, well‑defined neural pathways.

Subsequently, Dean Gao introduced China’s indigenous scale for assessing disorders of consciousness—the Chinese Nanjing Coma Recovery Scale (CNCRS). Built upon the Chinese Nanjing Persistent Vegetative State Scale (CNPVSS), this instrument has undergone multiple revisions and refinements. Its development took full account of China’s national context and the actual clinical circumstances of patients, demonstrating robust reliability and validity. At the same time, Dean Gao expressed his strong commitment and expectations for the widespread adoption and application of this homegrown assessment tool. He stated that Nanjing Zijin Hospital will continue to strive to implement multi-center studies using the CNCRS, laying a solid foundation for further research and dissemination of this domestically developed scale through clinical case collection, statistical analysis, and the preparation of scholarly publications. He is confident that, in future clinical practice, the CNCRS will play an even more significant role, providing more precise and effective assessments and treatment services for patients with disorders of consciousness.

Professor Wang Yifang, Eastern Theater Command Air Force Hospital

Professor Wang Yifang of the Eastern Theater Command Air Force Hospital began by introducing the three core scientific questions currently driving consciousness research, then provided a detailed exposition on the pathophysiology, clinical assessment, and therapeutic approaches for disorders of consciousness. By integrating relevant studies, she enabled the participants to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms, current advances, and existing challenges in this field.

Director Wang Changbao, Nanjing Zijin Hospital

At the training session, Wang Changbao, Director of the Department of Critical Care Medicine at Nanjing Zijin Hospital, not only provided an in-depth explanation of the application of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in the field of acute disorders of consciousness but also conducted a comparative analysis between Chinese‑developed scales and their international counterparts. Director Wang focused on the differences between the two in terms of scoring criteria and sub‑item content, highlighting the unique advantages of China’s indigenous scales in aligning with domestic clinical practice and addressing the specific needs of Chinese patients with disorders of consciousness.

During this training course on the assessment of disorders of consciousness, in addition to an in-depth presentation of theoretical concepts, Nanjing Zijin Hospital also incorporated hands-on practical sessions to enhance clinicians’ clinical skills and deepen their understanding of assessment scales.

Director Liu Yafeng of Nanjing Zijin Hospital

Director Liu Yafeng of Nanjing Zijin Hospital began with a detailed demonstration and explanation of the administration procedure for the Coma Recovery Scale–Revised (CRS‑R). Using real‑world cases, he systematically broke down each component of the scale—covering auditory, visual, and motor responses, among others—and underscored the key details and techniques that should be observed during clinical application.

Director Pan Xingming, Nanjing Zijin Hospital

Director Pan Xingming gave a demonstration of the Chinese Nanjing Consciousness Recovery Scale (CNCRS). He provided a detailed overview of the scale’s distinctive features, including its scoring criteria and the content of its subscales. Through hands-on practice, the participants gained a more intuitive understanding of the advantages and practical applicability of this domestically developed scale in assessing patients with disorders of consciousness in China.

Director Gao Jirong of Nanjing Zijin Hospital

During his demonstration of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Director Gao Jirong not only meticulously broke down the key procedural steps but also integrated his explanation with those of the two preceding directors, thereby establishing a comprehensive knowledge framework. This approach enabled trainees to connect the three scales, fostering a deeper understanding and mastery of the subject.

With the successful completion of the hands-on training sessions, the “Assessment Training Workshop on Consciousness Disorder Scales” has come to a close. Participants returned home enriched, having not only gained a wealth of theoretical knowledge but also deepened their understanding and enhanced their practical skills in applying consciousness disorder assessment scales through demonstration exercises and the sharing of clinical experience.

Looking ahead, we are confident that, through the concerted efforts of all healthcare professionals, China will continue to achieve new breakthroughs and advances in the assessment of disorders of consciousness. Nanjing Zijin Hospital will remain fully committed to this field, contributing its expertise and resources to the rehabilitation and well-being of patients with disorders of consciousness.