Research Domains for Using Recorded Data in the National Trauma Registry

Introduction: Trauma-related deaths increase yearly. The distribution of trauma cases is increasing in middle- and low-income countries, and therefore, a national trauma registry system is needed. This study aimed to prioritize the research domains using the data recorded in the National Trauma Registry of Iran (NTRI).Method: This study used three stages of qualitative and quantitative research methods. First, a detailed literature review was conducted to identify the research domains. Then, appropriate criteria for the priority setting of the study were determined. Finally, scientists and experts of the NTRI ranked the research areas. The data provided by NTRI experts were analyzed based on five scenarios. Results: By literature search, ۱۴ main domains using trauma registry data were identified, and six criteria were included in the final modeling phase to prioritize the mentioned domains. According to the NTRI expert opinion, the priority of criteria from highest to lowest was: “effectiveness of interventions performed on patients,” “improving the quality of medical services,” “prevention of trauma,” “Improving economic indicators of the health sector,” “feasibility,” and “importance in science and knowledge production” respectively. Finally, using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model, “investigating trauma incidence in children and adolescents” and “investigating the relationship between trauma registry data and hospital care protocols” had the highest and lowest average scores, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study show that, based on the data recorded in NTRI and according to experts’ views, “trauma incidence in children and adolescents, and distribution of trauma based on demographic information” were the most critical areas of research. A complete trauma registry system with an assessment of mentioned domains should be a priority for policymakers.