Establishing an Essential Dataset for Trauma Registry in LMICs: Insights From a Delphi Survey

Injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with 90% of deaths occurring in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). Establishing well-functioning trauma systems is crucial in LMICs, with a trauma registry being an integral component. This study used the Delphi Technique to gather insights from trauma experts on essential data variables for adult trauma registries in LMICs. It aimed to identify critical variables that can improve trauma care in resource-constrained settings.

A two-round Delphi survey was conducted from October 2023 to June 2024, engaging trauma specialists from diverse regions. Experts evaluated variables as essential, optional, or excluded, with a consensus of 70% agreement. Feedback from the first round informed the second round, focusing on variables lacking consensus.

In the first round, 37 variables reached consensus as essential, including demographics, injury-related data, prehospital information, some clinical assessment variables, injury classification, road traffic accident data, and patient outcome data. The second round identified additional variables and categorized others as optional, including education level, income level, certain advanced imaging modalities, cost of care, and some outcome measures. Birthplace was identified as the only variable for exclusion from the trauma registry.

This study identifies essential elements of a trauma registry in LMICs, leveraging insights from experts experienced in resource-limited settings. These recommendations ensure relevance and feasibility for implementation. Establishing such a registry is crucial for quality assurance, jurisdictional comparisons, and the foundation of trauma systems.