CompletedObservational

Digital trauma handover

This study is testing a new digital system that helps ambulance teams quickly share important information about seriously injured patients with hospital staff. The goal is to make sure patients get the right treatment faster, as even small delays can be very harmful. The system sends details like injuries and vital signs from the ambulance to the hospital before the patient arrives. Trauma doctors, nurses, and paramedics involved in treating these patients will give feedback on how well the system works. Patients themselves won't have any changes to their care in this study; researchers will just look at information from their routine treatment. This research hopes to lead to better, quicker care for trauma patients in the future.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

Queen Mary University of London

Enrolment target

Start

21 May 2025

Estimated completion

13 Feb 2026

Traumatic injury

What is this study about?

Imagine someone has a serious accident and needs urgent medical help. Every minute counts, especially if they're bleeding badly. This study, called "Digital trauma handover," is looking at a new way to speed up how hospitals get information about these patients when they're on their way to the emergency room.

Currently, information is often passed on verbally. This study is testing a digital system where ambulance teams, like those from London's Air Ambulance, can send crucial details about a patient's injuries, vital signs (like heart rate and breathing), and any treatment they've already had, directly to the hospital staff before the patient even arrives. The main goal is to make sure the hospital team is fully prepared and can start treatment quicker, potentially saving lives and improving recovery.

This isn't about changing how patients are treated, but rather making the communication smoother and faster behind the scenes. The information gathered will help us understand if this digital system actually helps reduce delays and could lead to better care for seriously injured people in the future.

Key takeaways

This study aims to make handover of trauma patient information from ambulance to hospital faster and more efficient.
It uses a new digital system to send key patient details before arrival at the hospital.
Patients won't have any changes to their treatment; only their anonymised routine care data will be used.
Medical staff (doctors, nurses, paramedics) will provide feedback on the system.
The goal is to improve future care for seriously injured patients, potentially saving lives.
The study is run by Queen Mary University of London and funded by Rosetrees Trust and ZOLL Medical Corporation.

Who may be eligible?

This study involves two main groups of people: the medical staff and the patients.

For the medical staff (like doctors, registrars, and paramedics), you can take part if you are directly involved in the first assessment and treatment of adult trauma patients who are brought to the Royal London Hospital by London's Air Ambulance. However, if you don't want to participate or aren't involved in this specific initial care, you won't be included.

For patients, you can be part of the study if you are 16 years old or older and have a traumatic injury. We won't include patients under 16, or those with very specific types of injuries like severe burns, or certain other conditions where physical injuries aren't the main problem. Remember, if you are a patient, your care won't change as 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.

Are you 16 years old or older?
Have you experienced a traumatic physical injury?
Are you NOT being treated for severe burns or certain mental health crises without physical injury?
If you are a clinician: Are you a doctor, registrar, or paramedic involved in the initial care of adult trauma patients from London's Air Ambulance at the Royal London Hospital?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you are a medical professional taking part in this study, you will be asked to do a few things. After helping with a trauma case, you'll complete a questionnaire about how you see the risks involved. Every two months, you'll fill out another questionnaire to tell us how easy and useful the digital system is to use. You might also be asked to take part in an interview to share your detailed thoughts and feedback on the system. The study will run from May 2025 to February 2026.

If you are a patient, you won't have any extra visits, assessments, or changes to your medication or follow-up care for this study. Your medical information from your standard care will be used, but only with your consent, and it will be anonymised (meaning your name and identifying details will be removed) to protect your privacy.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no changes to the care or treatment you would normally receive as a patient in this study, so there are no direct physical risks. All patient and clinician information will be kept private and secure, with names removed so no one can identify you. The main benefit of this study is that the findings could help develop new tools, possibly using artificial intelligence, to improve how quickly and effectively seriously injured patients receive care in the future. You always have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without it affecting your care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Barts and the London NHS Trust
City only
London, England

Common questions

What is 'trauma' in this study?

In this study, 'trauma' refers to serious physical injuries, usually from accidents like falls or road traffic collisions.

Will my medical care be different if I'm a patient in this study?

No, your medical care will be exactly the same as usual. The study is about how information is shared, not about your specific treatment.

Who is running this study?

This study is being run by Queen Mary University of London in the UK, with funding from the Rosetrees Trust and ZOLL Medical Corporation.

How long will the study last?

The study is planned to run from May 2025 to February 2026.

Will my personal details be kept private?

Yes, all patient and medical staff data will be made anonymous, meaning your name and identifying details will be removed, and it will be stored securely.

How to find out more

Zane Perkins

z.perkins@qmul.ac.uk +44 (0)2073777000 Official trial record

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