Discover the pivotal insights from New Zealand’s Trauma Outcomes Project, a groundbreaking prospective study shedding light on the long-term impacts of major trauma on patients’ lives.
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Cohort profile: The Trauma Outcomes Project, a prospective study of New Zealanders experiencing major trauma.
Owen et al., BMJ Open 2023
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075480
Summary of Trauma Outcomes Project (TOP) Cohort Profile in New Zealand
What’s New: The Trauma Outcomes Project (TOP) is the first initiative to collect patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) from major trauma patients in New Zealand, including a focus on the Māori population.
Importance: PROMs are critical for assessing the quality of trauma care and patient recovery, which had not been previously monitored by the New Zealand Trauma Registry (NZTR).
Contribution to Literature: This study provides detailed preinjury and 6-month postinjury data, highlighting the impact of major trauma on health-related quality of life, disability, and employment.
Key Results:
– Participants: 870 trauma patients were recruited, including 119 Māori.
– Health Impact: At 6 months, 85% still affected by injury, with 88% reporting problems in ≥1 EQ-5D-5L dimensions (75% pain/discomfort, 71% usual activities, 52% mobility).
– Disability: 45% reported considerable disability (WHODAS II score ≥10), with higher prevalence among Māori (53%) compared to non-Māori (44%).
– Healthcare Access: 28% had difficulties accessing services for their injury.
– Employment: Paid work participation dropped from 63% preinjury to 45% postinjury.
Future Work: Analyses of 12-month outcomes are in progress, with potential for longer-term follow-up, aiming to improve postinjury outcomes and inform quality improvement processes within the National Trauma Network, especially for Māori.