The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data (ATBIND) project: a mixed methods study protocol.

Area of Science:

• Trauma research
• Public health surveillance
• Neurotrauma epidemiology

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability following physical trauma.
• There is a critical lack of national outcome data for moderate to severe TBI cases in Australia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and key factors influencing outcomes for patients with moderate to severe TBI in Australia.
• To analyze outcomes for specific population subgroups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Main Methods:

• The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data (ATBIND) project will analyze Australia New Zealand Trauma Registry (ATR) and National Coronial Information Service (NCIS) data.
• Inclusion criteria for moderate to severe TBI: Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) (head) score > 2, Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 12, or death in hospital/pre-hospital consistent with TBI.
• Primary outcome: survival to discharge; secondary outcomes: discharge destination, length of stay, ventilator-free days, and cost.

Main Results:

• Data analysis is ongoing; specific results on incidence and determinants of outcomes are pending.
• The study will provide the first national dataset on moderate to severe TBI outcomes in Australia.

Conclusions:

• Findings will inform improvements in equitable, system-level care for all Australians with moderate to severe TBI.
• Emphasis on adhering to Indigenous data sovereignty principles in data analysis and dissemination.