Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.

Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Data characterizing the burden of trauma in Cameroon is limited. Regular, prospective injury surveillance can address the shortcomings of existing hospital administrative logs and medical records. This study aims to characterize trauma...

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Main Authors: Alain Chichom-Mefire, Obieze C Nwanna-Nzewunwa, Vincent Verla Siysi, Isabelle Feldhaus, Rochelle Dicker, Catherine Juillard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5516986?pdf=render
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author Alain Chichom-Mefire
Obieze C Nwanna-Nzewunwa
Vincent Verla Siysi
Isabelle Feldhaus
Rochelle Dicker
Catherine Juillard
author_facet Alain Chichom-Mefire
Obieze C Nwanna-Nzewunwa
Vincent Verla Siysi
Isabelle Feldhaus
Rochelle Dicker
Catherine Juillard
author_sort Alain Chichom-Mefire
collection DOAJ
description Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Data characterizing the burden of trauma in Cameroon is limited. Regular, prospective injury surveillance can address the shortcomings of existing hospital administrative logs and medical records. This study aims to characterize trauma as seen at the emergency department (ED) of Limbe Regional Hospital (LRH) and assess the completeness of data obtained by a trauma registry.From January 2008 to October 2013, we prospectively captured data on injured patients using a strategically designed, context-relevant trauma registry instrument. Indicators around patient demographics, injury characteristics, delays in accessing care, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. About 5,617 patients, aged from 0.5-95years (median age of 26 years), visited the LRH ED with an injury; 67% were male. Students (27%) were the most affected occupation category. Road traffic injuries (RTIs) (56%), assault (22%), and domestic injuries (13%) were the leading causes of injury. Two-thirds of RTIs were motorcycle-related. Working in transportation (AOR 4.42, p<0.001) and law enforcement (AOR 1.73, p = 0.004) were significant predictors of having a RTI. The trauma registry showed a significant improvement in completeness of all data (p<0.001) and it improved over time compared with previous administrative records. However, proportions of missing data still ranged from 0.5% to 8.2% and involved respiratory rate or Glasgow Coma scale.Implementation of a context-appropriate trauma registry in resource-constrained settings is feasible. Providing valuable, high-quality data, the trauma registry can inform trauma care quality improvement efforts and policy development. Study findings indicate the need for injury prevention interventions and policies that will prioritize high-risks groups, such as those aged 20-29 years, and those in occupations requiring frequent road travel. The high incidence of motorcycle-related injuries is concerning and calls for a proactive solution.
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spelling doaj.art-6d3bc82f74de49628d840da5cc8b0f5a2022-12-22T01:05:42ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01127e018078410.1371/journal.pone.0180784Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.Alain Chichom-MefireObieze C Nwanna-NzewunwaVincent Verla SiysiIsabelle FeldhausRochelle DickerCatherine JuillardTrauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Data characterizing the burden of trauma in Cameroon is limited. Regular, prospective injury surveillance can address the shortcomings of existing hospital administrative logs and medical records. This study aims to characterize trauma as seen at the emergency department (ED) of Limbe Regional Hospital (LRH) and assess the completeness of data obtained by a trauma registry.From January 2008 to October 2013, we prospectively captured data on injured patients using a strategically designed, context-relevant trauma registry instrument. Indicators around patient demographics, injury characteristics, delays in accessing care, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted. About 5,617 patients, aged from 0.5-95years (median age of 26 years), visited the LRH ED with an injury; 67% were male. Students (27%) were the most affected occupation category. Road traffic injuries (RTIs) (56%), assault (22%), and domestic injuries (13%) were the leading causes of injury. Two-thirds of RTIs were motorcycle-related. Working in transportation (AOR 4.42, p<0.001) and law enforcement (AOR 1.73, p = 0.004) were significant predictors of having a RTI. The trauma registry showed a significant improvement in completeness of all data (p<0.001) and it improved over time compared with previous administrative records. However, proportions of missing data still ranged from 0.5% to 8.2% and involved respiratory rate or Glasgow Coma scale.Implementation of a context-appropriate trauma registry in resource-constrained settings is feasible. Providing valuable, high-quality data, the trauma registry can inform trauma care quality improvement efforts and policy development. Study findings indicate the need for injury prevention interventions and policies that will prioritize high-risks groups, such as those aged 20-29 years, and those in occupations requiring frequent road travel. The high incidence of motorcycle-related injuries is concerning and calls for a proactive solution.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5516986?pdf=render
spellingShingle Alain Chichom-Mefire
Obieze C Nwanna-Nzewunwa
Vincent Verla Siysi
Isabelle Feldhaus
Rochelle Dicker
Catherine Juillard
Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.
PLoS ONE
title Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.
title_full Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.
title_fullStr Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.
title_full_unstemmed Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.
title_short Key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in Southwest Cameroon.
title_sort key findings from a prospective trauma registry at a regional hospital in southwest cameroon
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5516986?pdf=render
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