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Proving the Trauma app’s usability and data completeness

Authors

Miss Joanne Butler & Prof. David J. Lowe
from Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), NHS Glasgow & Greater Clyde (GG&C)

After successful pioneering design, development and launch of the Trauma App within both the Childrens and Adult Major Trauma Centre in the West of Scotland the next step was to evaluate its impact. In the first of we hope a series of studies the team at the QEUH carried out a research study[1] during the App’s deployment.

During each implementation we are keen to support teams gathering evidence through audit, QI or research to help develop the app but more importantly gain insight into trauma process, pathways and ultimately how care is delivered.

Many other research studies have proved electronic documentation compared to paper is statistically significantly improved and that poor quality documentation is associated with higher patient mortality[2].

The study in the QE sought to explore the impact of digital documentation through the Trauma App improved documentation in the often challenging melee of delivering care to critically unwell trauma Patients.

Our Key findings:

More usable than paper – System Usability Score for the app is above the internationally validated standard of acceptable usability.

100% endorsement – Trauma Coordinators were unanimous in their agreement that the Trauma App should be used going forward.

Big potential – The app is in its early stages of use with multiple hospitals in the NHS on the pathway to onboarding. More real-life cases scribed paves the way for better datasets for robust research.

This study has shown promising initial results, and we are very hopeful that as app usage continues to grow, we will see further confirmation of its substantial impact in the future.

Our next study is focussing on the effort with upload to Scotland’s Trauma Registry (STAG), looking to identify impact on reducing the administrative burden and resource cost saved as a result.

Working with the team at Daysix, we’ve experienced a highly collaborative clinically-led approach that is patient outcome driven and focused, putting data and digital innovation centre stage.

You can find out more of the study details in the published article via BMC Emergency Medicine.

Professor David J Lowe is Clinical Director of Innovation at University of Glasgow, Emergency Consultant at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow and Clinical Lead for Health Innovation for the Scottish Government.

David has significant experience of creating the infrastructure and conditions to develop innovative devices, services and solutions with a range of industry and academic partners both UK and worldwide.

References

[1] Butler, M.J., Arneil, C., Whitelaw, A.S. et al. Implementation of major trauma app: usability and data completeness. BMC Emerg Med 24, 136 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-024-01022-w

[2] Grundgeiger T, Albert M, Reinhardt O, et al. Real-time tablet-based resuscitation documentation by the team leader: evaluating documentation quality and clinical performance. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2016;24:51. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-016-0242-3.
Angotti LM, How RA, Barnack KR, et al. Electronic trauma resuscitation documentation and decision support using T6 health systems mobile application: a combat center pilot program. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2020;89(6):1172–1176. https://doi.org/10.1097%2FTA.0000000000002909