A multi-agency research team is working to create Australia’s first national trauma surveillance system, using emergency department data to provide a comprehensive picture of existing and emerging injury patterns across the country.
The project recently received a grant of A$2.98 million (US$2 million) from the Australian Government’s Future of Medical Research Fund.
The research team consists of scientists from the University of Modern South Wales (UNSW), the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Green Airy Institute for Emergency Care.
It is also supported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine and the Monash University Accident Research Centre.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT
Based on the press release, the project will be implementedapply artificial intelligence techniques to collect data from emergency departments across states and territories to build a trauma monitoring system.
The system will be able to to identify risks not currently captured by existing data, including domestic violence, child abuse, alcohol or drug misuse, deliberate self-harm and workplace risks. It will also enable better identification of priority groups, including low-income people and those living in rural and remote areas.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT
According to the latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 1.9 million patients attended emergency departments in Australia last year as a result of a personal injury.
As UNSW notes, different states have different injury monitoring systems, and some do not collect injury data at all.
A national data system that provides more reliable and timely access to injury data is expected to be critical to preventive action, as well as to underpin policies, standards and regulations aimed at reducing injuries in communities.
“For example, our system will detect some drug-related harm in some areas of the country, perhaps even linked to a new street drug. We will be able to use the data to inform public health initiatives and take rapid and targeted action to reduce the burden of death and disability from injuries,” explained Dr Lisa Sharwood, an epidemiologist and project leader from UNSW Sydney.
“When we better understand what causes injuries, it becomes easier to prevent them,” she added.
BIGGER TREND
According to AIHW data, injuries accounted for 8% of the country’s total disease burden last year, causing more than 500,000 hospitalizations. In 2021, nearly 15,000 people died from injuries. It is also said to causep 7.3% of total healthcare spending in 2021
Most of the injuries that lead to both diseasesAs AIHW data shows, falls cause many injuries and deaths. There are already initiatives aimed at preventing falls, especially in residential care facilities for the elderly, whereoften, including the employ of data analysis and autonomous sensors by consortium of organisations in the elderly care sector.
Meanwhile, Victoria The Transport Accident Commission is currently collecting information on patient outcomes and experiences to assist physiotherapists in making clinical decisions, particularly in understanding the impact of injury on patients and tailoring treatment to their needs.