Patients experiences of trauma care in the emergency department
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients experiences of trauma care in the emergency department of a major trauma hospital: an exploratory qualitative study
IRAS ID
166971
Contact name
Eamonn McKeown
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
The ‘Patients experience of trauma care in the emergency department’ exploratory study is designed to explore patient experiences of trauma care in the emergency department.
Trauma is the leading cause of death in the first four decades of a life and can result in death or disability. It occurs with suddenly, with no warning, leaving patients no time to prepare, potentially forever changing the lives of the patient and their family. Blunt trauma such as road traffic accidents, make up the majority of the trauma in the United Kingdom, the rest consists of penetrating `(for example stab wounds and impalements), blast and thermal injuries.
The physical and emotional impact that trauma can have on the patient, as well as their friends and family, can be huge. There is also the financial impact of trauma, which can also be huge, both on the NHS, the employer and the patient and their family, through the impact of hospital stay, rehabilitation, lost working hours and gradual supported returns to work.
This would suggest that any measures to reduce the impact of trauma would be advantageous. Trauma nurses are key in the process of caring for this patients, observing, monitoring and communicating with them every step of the way through their emergency care journey. Trauma nursing care can be improved with a greater knowledge of the patients’ perception of trauma care in the emergency department.
Adult trauma patients who are admitted to the hospital from the ED will be screened for eligibility.
The study will be conducted in a single centre major trauma centre.
The study will be conducted in part fulfilment of an Mres Clinical research. The total project from planning to submission will run from Oct 2014 – Sept 2015. Eligible patients will be invited to partake in a single 45-60 minute interview, during their inpatient stay.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0274
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion