Care of Injured Children Compared to Adults at District and Regional Hospitals in Ghana and the Impact of a Trauma Intake Form: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial

In brief

This stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial evaluated whether implementing a standardized trauma intake form improved adherence to key performance indicators in initial trauma care for injured children versus adults at district and regional hospitals in Ghana. The study addresses quality improvement in pediatric emergency trauma management in resource-limited settings.

• Standardized trauma intake forms can improve adherence to key performance indicators in initial trauma care at non-tertiary hospitals.
• The study compared pediatric vs. adult trauma care quality at district and regional hospitals in Ghana using a stepped-wedge design.
• Implementation of structured documentation tools may reduce variability in trauma assessment and management across age groups.
• Non-tertiary hospitals in low-resource settings may benefit from simple, standardized protocols to enhance trauma care delivery.
• The stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial design allows evaluation of interventions while ensuring all sites eventually receive the tool.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.