Exploring the Long-Term Disability Outcomes in Trauma Patients: Study Protocol.

Objectives: Post-discharge patient-reported outcomes from trauma registries can be used to measure trauma care quality. However, studies reflecting the Asian experience are limited. Therefore, we aim to develop a digital trauma registry to prospectively capture patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at one-, three-, six-, and twelve-months post-injury in Pakistan.

Methods: We will use a cohort study design to develop a digital trauma registry at two tertiary care facilities (Aga Khan University Hospital & Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center) in Karachi, Pakistan. The registry will include all admitted adult trauma patients (≥18 years). Data collection will be digital using tablets, with mortality, level of disability, and functional status, quality of life being the outcomes. Telephonic interviews will be conducted with the patients and caregivers for follow-up data collection.

Discussion: The high disability burden following accidental trauma imposes a significant burden and cost on individuals and society. Therefore, the trauma registry would fill this gap by capturing post-discharge long-term PROs. It will provide the injured patient's post-discharge situation, challenges, and future directions for incorporating long-term PROs in low-resource settings. Including long-term measures in routine follow-ups will provide insights into physical, social, and policy barriers and help advance injury care research.