RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Retrospective Assessment of Referral of a Major Trauma Patient

This study is reviewing how patients with very serious injuries in the Val d'Oise area of France were directed to hospitals. Its main goal is to see if these patients were sent to the most suitable specialist trauma centre for their specific needs, and to check the quality of the initial assessment process. In France, serious injuries are a major health issue, especially for people under 40. Getting patients to the correct hospital quickly is vital for their survival and recovery. The study wants to understand if the process of deciding which hospital to send a seriously injured patient to is working well, or if improvements could be made to ensure every patient gets the best care right from the start.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Hôpital NOVO

Enrolment target

461

Start

18 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

01 May 2025

Trauma Injury

What is this study about?

When someone has a very serious injury, like from a bad accident, it's called a 'major trauma'. In France, these types of injuries are unfortunately common and are a leading cause of death for younger people. How quickly and effectively these patients are treated, and crucially, where they are sent for care, can make a huge difference to their chances of survival and recovery.

Specialist hospitals called 'trauma centres' are designed to handle these serious injuries. They have different levels of expertise, from those equipped for the most critical cases to those for less severe, but still serious, injuries. The process of deciding which trauma centre a patient should go to is called 'triage'. The goal is always to send the right patient to the right place at the right time.

This study is looking back at patient records in the Val d'Oise region of France to see if this 'triage' system is working as it should. Sometimes, a patient might be thought to be more seriously injured than they are (called 'over-triage'), which can use up valuable resources. Other times, a patient might be thought to be less seriously injured than they are (called 'under-triage'), meaning they might not get the specialist care they desperately need, which could impact their recovery. The study aims to identify if these issues are happening and how often, so that improvements can be made to ensure all seriously injured patients receive the best possible care from the moment of their accident.

Key takeaways

Retrospective study reviewing past patient data.
Focuses on how seriously injured patients were sent to hospitals.
Aims to improve the 'triage' system for trauma patients.
No direct patient involvement or impact on current care.
Uses anonymous data to enhance future patient care.
Conducted in the Val d'Oise region of France.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking at information from adult patients who experienced a serious injury in the Val d'Oise region of France between January 1st and December 31st, 2023. These patients would have been assessed by the emergency medical service (SAMU 95) and thought to have a major trauma, meaning they met certain criteria for serious injuries.

There are specific situations where a patient's information would not be included. For example, if the patient died at the scene of the accident, or if they were a child (under 18) or unable to make their own decisions due to legal reasons. Also, if paramedics from outside the Val d'Oise area were involved, or if the injured person refused transport to a hospital, their information would not be part of this study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Were you an adult (18 or over) at the time of your injury?
Did your serious injury occur in the Val d'Oise area of France?
Did your injury happen between January 1st and December 31st, 2023?
Were you assessed by the SAMU 95 emergency service for a suspected major trauma?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is a 'retrospective' study, meaning it looks back at existing hospital records and emergency service data. Patients do not directly participate in this study. There are no visits, assessments, medications, or follow-up appointments required. No new information is collected from patients, and their hospital care and experience are not changed in any way by this study. The study simply reviews anonymous information already collected.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only looks at existing, anonymised patient records, there are no direct risks to patients. Patients are not involved in any procedures, and their medical care is not affected. The potential benefit of this study is that by understanding how patients with serious injuries are directed to hospitals, improvements can be made to the emergency medical system in Val d'Oise. This could lead to better and quicker care for seriously injured patients in the future, potentially improving their chances of survival and recovery. Individuals cannot withdraw their data as all information used is anonymous and historical.

Locations (1)

Resuscitation Services (SAMU 95/SMUR) - Hôpital NOVO -Pontoise Site
Verified postcode
Pontoise, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a 'major trauma'?

A major trauma is a very serious injury, often from an accident, that could be life-threatening or cause long-term health problems.

What does 'triage' mean in this study?

Triage is the process of quickly assessing a seriously injured person to decide where they should go for treatment – for example, which specialist hospital or trauma centre.

Will my personal details be used in this study?

No, the study uses anonymous information from existing records, so your personal details will not be identified.

Why is this study important?

It helps to check and improve how seriously injured patients are sent to hospitals, aiming to make sure everyone gets the right care at the right time to improve their recovery.

Who is conducting this study?

This study is a research project aiming to assess and improve the pathways for trauma patients in the Val d'Oise region of France.

How to find out more

Maryline DELATTRE

maryline.delattre@ght-novo.fr +3333130754131 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.