JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Knowledge of rehabilitation needs in, and service provision for, trauma patients is scarce.

Objective:

This study aims to describe the prevalence of rehabilitation needs, the provided services and functional outcomes across age, injury severity and geographical regions in the first year after trauma. Direct and indirect costs of rehabilitation provision will also be assessed.

Methods:

This is a population-based prospective follow-up study. It encompasses patients with moderate and severe acute traumatic injury (New Injury Severity Score > 9) of all ages admitted to the regional trauma centres in southeastern and northern Norway over a one-year period (2020). Socio-demographic and injury data will be collected. Upon hospital discharge, rehabilitation doctors estimate rehabilitation needs. Rehabilitation needs are assessed by the Rehabilitation Complexity Scale Extended - Trauma (RCS E-Trauma) (specialised inpatient rehabilitation), Needs and Provision Complexity Scale (NPCS) (community-based rehabilitation and healthcare services delivery) and Family Needs Questionnaire (Paediatric version FNQ-P). Patients and/or family caregivers will complete questionnaires at six and 12-month follow-ups, which are supplemented by telephone interviews. Data on functioning and disability, mental health, health-related quality of life measured by EuroQol Questionnaire (EQ-5D), and needs and provisions for rehabilitation and healthcare services are collected by validated outcome measures. Unmet needs are represented by the discrepancies between the estimates of the RCS E and NPCS at the time of a patient’s discharge and the rehabilitation services the patient has actually received. Formal service provision, including admission to inpatient- or outpatient-based rehabilitation, informal care and associated costs, will be collected.

Results:

The project was funded in December 2018 and approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics in October 2019. Inclusion of patients began on 1st January 2020 at Oslo University Hospital and at the University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø on 1st February 2020. As of November 2020, we have enrolled 584 patients, and for 137 patients the 6-month follow-up has been completed. Papers will be drafted for publication throughout 2021 and 2022.

Conclusions:

This study will improve our understanding of existing service provision, the gaps between needs and services, and the associated costs for treating moderate and severe trauma. This may guide the improvement of rehabilitation and healthcare resource planning and allocation.