An International and Multidisciplinary Consensus on the Labeling of Spatial Neglect Using a Modified Delphi Method.
Timothy J Rich, Lindy J Williams, Audrey Bowen and 6 others
PMID 39006109WHAT IT FOUND
Experts reached consensus on 'spatial neglect' as the preferred label, because 'unilateral' implies one-sided deficits while impairment follows a gradient.
Use it when communicating the diagnosis.
Key findings
01The panel reached consensus that a consistent label was important, with 80.1% endorsing it in round 3.
02After a tied first vote and discussion, the panel reached consensus at the 75% agreement threshold for the label 'spatial neglect'.
03Panelists opposed 'unilateral' because it implies normal performance on one side, whereas deficits follow a gradient across space.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The protocol was not prospectively registered. Experts were selected by publication count using a Scopus search, so researchers who used less common labels may have been missed. No eligible researchers from African countries and very few from Asian countries were identified, so the panel was biased toward North America and Europe. About 40% of round 1 panelists did not participate in round 2 or 3. The final consensus came from 8 round 4 panelists after a small first vote. The study reached consensus on a label; it did not test diagnosis, assessment, or treatment outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the consensus as proof that 'spatial neglect' is the most accurate label for every patient. It is expert agreement on terminology, not a test of assessment accuracy, symptoms, or treatment outcomes.