Smart Trauma: Improving the Delivery of Evidence-Based Trauma Care.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-2019

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.04.064

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mobile technology can aid in healthcare decision-making at the point of care. We created a Web-based trauma-specific smartphone application containing links to local protocols and national organization guidelines for trauma providers. We hypothesized that smartphone access to these guidelines would facilitate application of knowledge in a timely fashion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Trauma providers were randomized to have or not have access to their smartphone during a timed, 10-question examination of trauma scenarios based on Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Western Trauma Association, and local protocols. Participants were then surveyed regarding their experience with the application. Groups were compared based on time with completion and percentage of correct answers. Subgroup analyses were completed to assess the utility of the application.

RESULTS: Of 30 participants, 16 were randomized to smartphone use. Smartphone users took longer to complete the examination than nonusers (9:18 versus 6:36, P = 0.007) but answered a greater proportion of questions correctly (50% versus 40%, P = 0.159). Smartphone users had a higher percentage correct for Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and Western Trauma Association protocol-based questions (78% versus 52%, P = 0.027; 70% versus 39%, P = 0.011), but no difference for local protocol-based questions (29% versus 37%, P = 0.48). Smartphone users who reported recent application use had the longest time to completion (11:44, P = 0.023) but the highest percentage correct (60%, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone use among those familiar with our trauma application resulted in the highest percentage correct but increased times to completion. The application interface should be streamlined, and providers educated to improve usage and reduce time to access information.

Journal Title

The Journal of surgical research

Volume

242

First Page

252

Last Page

257

MeSH Keywords

Adult; Decision Support Systems, Clinical; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Humans; Internet; Internship and Residency; Male; Middle Aged; Mobile Applications; Nurse Practitioners; Physician Assistants; Point-of-Care Systems; Smartphone; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Wounds and Injuries; Young Adult

Keywords

Mobile technology; Smartphone; Trauma algorithms; Trauma application; Trauma protocols

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