Using injury prevention priority scores to investigate adult traumatic injuries in Nova Scotia, Canada

Traumatic injuries are a primary public health concern and a leading cause of mortality, placing significant strain on healthcare systems. To address this, the objective is to develop province-wide Injury Prevention Priority Scores (IPPS) for major traumatic injuries in Nova Scotia. Allowing for the identification of which mechanisms, if prevented, would yield the greatest impact.

We included all adults (≥20 years old) major trauma patients in Nova Scotia from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2023, from a population-based trauma registry. We calculated Injury Prevention Priority Scores (IPPS) for each mechanism of injury. Frequency plus one of the following measures: injury severity, mortality, resource utilization, and societal cost, is included in the IPPS calculation.

A total of 6240 patients were included in the analysis, with falls the leading IPPS scores in two domains (Severity = 66 and Resource Utilization = 65). Motor vehicle collisions scored the highest (65) in the societal cost domain, while intentional self-harm injuries and falls shared the highest score (64) for the mortality domain.

Based on our investigation, falls and motor vehicle collisions are the top injury priorities for injury prevention in Nova Scotia, while intentional self-harm linked to substance use also demonstrated high mortality. High hospital costs from falls in older adults emphasize the need for a coordinated early intervention and improved trauma care planning. Targeted injury prevention strategies focusing on falls, motor vehicle collisions, and intentional self-harm, alongside interdisciplinary support, are crucial for reducing trauma-related morbidity and mortality.