Challenges to the standardization of trauma data collection in burn, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other trauma populations: A call for common data elements for acute and longitudinal trauma databases

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J80952

Journal:

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2019 , 100, 5, 891-898

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study analyzed the compatibility of several databases to determine the feasibility of linking acute care and longitudinal trauma databases. The data dictionaries of 5 trauma databases were examined to determine the extent of common data collection. Databases included 2 acute care databases (American Burn Association’s National Burn Data Standard and American College of Surgeons’ National Trauma Data Standard) and 3 longitudinal trauma databases (Burn, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury Model System National Databases). Data elements and data values were compared across the databases. Quantitative and qualitative variations in the data were identified to highlight meaningful differences between datasets. Of the 30 data elements examined, 14 (47 percent) were present in all 5 databases. Another 9 elements (30 percent) were present in 4 of the 5 databases. The number of elements present in each database ranged from 23 (77 percent) to 26 (86 percent). There were inconsistencies in the data values across the databases. Twelve of the 14 data elements present in all 5 databases exhibited differences in data values. This study demonstrates inconsistencies in the documentation of data elements in 5 common trauma databases. These discrepancies are a barrier to database harmonization and to maximizing the use of these databases through linking, pooling, and comparing data. A collaborative effort is required to develop a standardized set of elements for trauma research.

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