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dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Teresa
dc.contributor.authorFinn, Judith
dc.contributor.authorFatovich, D.
dc.contributor.authorJacobs, I.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T12:39:52Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T12:39:52Z
dc.date.created2014-01-21T20:01:01Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.identifier.citationWilliams, Teresa and Finn, Judith and Fatovich, Daniel and Jacobs, Ian. 2013. Outcomes of different health care contexts for direct transport to a trauma center versus initial secondary center care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prehospital Emergency Care. 17 (4): pp. 442-457.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/23911
dc.identifier.doi10.3109/10903127.2013.804137
dc.description.abstract

Introduction: Within a trauma system, pre-hospital care is the first step in managing the trauma patient. Timely and appropriate transport of the injured patient to the most appropriate facility is important. Many trauma systems mandate that serious trauma cases are transported directly to a level I trauma center unless transfer to a closer hospital is deemed necessary to resuscitate and stabilize the patient prior to onward transfer to definitive care. Statistical and clinical heterogeneity is often high and is likely to be influenced by the heath care context.Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare patient outcomes for patients with serious trauma transported directly to a Level I/II trauma center (‘direct’ group) to those transported to a healthcare facility before transfer to the Level I/II trauma center (‘transfer’ group). A search of bibliographic databases and secondary sources that focus on trauma was made. Studies were grouped by region: United States of America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand and South Africa.Results: The review included 43,554 patients from the 30 studies that met the selection criteria. Heterogeneity of the studies was high (I2 71%) overall but low for European, Asian, and Australian and New Zealand studies. There was considerable variation between studies in the structure, policies and practices of the respective trauma systems. The effect of “directness” on patient outcomes was inconsistent.Conclusion: The current research evidence does not support nor refute a position that all serious trauma patients be routinely transported directly to a level I/II trauma center. As this is a complex issue, local health-care context and injury profile influence trauma policy and practice.

dc.publisherInforma Healthcare
dc.subjecttrauma
dc.subjecttransport
dc.subjecttrauma center
dc.subjectemergency medical services
dc.titleOutcomes of different health care contexts for direct transport to a trauma center versus initial secondary center care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume17
dcterms.source.startPage442
dcterms.source.endPage457
dcterms.source.issn1090-3127
dcterms.source.titleprehospital emergency care
curtin.note

This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in the Prehospital Emergency Care, Copyright © 2013, Informa Healthcare, available online at: http://informahealthcare.com/doi:10.3109/10903127.2013.804137

curtin.department
curtin.accessStatusOpen access


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