Trauma Registry Development for Jos University Teaching Hospital: Report of the First Year Experience

Abstract

Adequate intervention in trauma management and prevention requires a well-documented database for objective study of the disease characteristics, hence the need for a trauma registry. The aim and objective of this study is to document in a database all patients admitted in our hospital following trauma. This study was conducted at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Beginning 1 January 2012, data was collected on a trauma data sheet and transferred to a 3-page, 80-point questionnaire on Epi info3.5.2 software and stored in a standalone desktop computer. Four hundred fifty-nine patients were registered. Road traffic collisions were the most common causes of trauma, 312 (70.0 %), followed by gunshots, 58 (12.6 %). Mechanism of injury was blunt in 307 patients (66.9 %) and penetrating in 152 patients (33.1 %). Only 9 patients (2.0 %) were brought in by ambulance; majority came by public transportation, 401 (87.4 %). Eighty four patients (18.3 %) suffered various complications; 342 (74.5 %) were discharged home in satisfactory condition, and there were 32 hospital mortalities (7.0 %). Challenges encountered include difficulty in data collection, lack of computer software and internet access, no dedicated registry staff and no funding to engage, train and retain data gathering and management personnel. Our results provide data in support of the known epidemiology of trauma in our environment. Challenges encountered can be overcome using local assets and resources.

Understanding the barriers and facilitators to trauma registry development in resource-constrained settings: A survey of trauma registry stewards and researchers

“…Barriers relating to both staffing and funding the trauma registry emerged as the first and second most common issues from respondents respectively, and is supported readily by papers that have documented or reported on their individual experience of trauma registry implementation [22][23][24][25][26] . A study by O'Reilly et al (2016), which reported the lessons learned of trauma registry development in both HICs and LMICs similarly identified both funding and staffing challenges as key topics to surface in their interviews with trauma registry custodians.…”

Developing a low-resource approach to trauma patient care - findings from a nigerian trauma registry

“…(mean age of 29 ± 15 years) based on trauma registry data from a center in Northern Nigeria. [ 9 10 ] However, the two studies under reference included data from both children and adults, while our study was restricted to adults. This may account for the downward pull on the mean in the other studies.…”

“…(Lagos) – 2.3%. [ 10 11 12 ] The findings by Cassidy et al . may not be representative of the country because it included findings from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, which being the seat of Government, may enjoy more facilities than most other States or regions of the country.…”

“…[ 9 17 ] The findings from Northern Nigeria, however, revealed a higher proportion of penetrating injuries (one-third), which could be accounted for by the high spate of civil conflict in the region. [ 10 ] This draws attention to the low proportion of gunshot injuries in studies from non-conflict zones of Nigeria. [ 9 ] This may represent a low incidence of gunshot injuries in Nigeria as suggested by other studies – rigorous community-based research is required to clarify these findings.…”

“…This is consistent with similar studies in West Africa. [ 9 10 12 19 ] The tricycle is the most common means of public transportation in Uyo, the capital city of Akwa-Ibom State. [ 20 ] Despite this background, only 6.9% of the motor vehicular crashes involved a tricycle, suggesting it may be a safer means of transportation [ Table 3 ].…”