Post-discharge follow-up of patients with spine trauma in the National Spinal Cord Injury Registry of Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges and lessons learned

Chinese Journal of Traumatology, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjtee.2023.10.005 · Published: November 10, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Trauma Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

The National Spinal Cord Injury Registry of Iran (NSCIR-IR) aims to assess the quality of care for spine trauma patients. This study investigates the success of NSCIR-IR in providing post-discharge follow-up data for these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telephone and face-to-face follow-ups were conducted, and data completeness was evaluated to identify challenges and improve patient accessibility and data accuracy.

Study Duration

April 11, 2021 to April 22, 2022

Participants

1292 patients with spine trauma

Evidence Level

Observational prospective study

Key Findings

1
The success rate of follow-ups by telephone was 73.38% and 67.05% for non-SCI patients, while face-to-face follow-ups for SCI patients had a success rate of 66.67%.
2
Data completeness after discharge ranged from 48% to 100% for group 1, 22% to 100% for group 2, and 29% to 100% for group 3.
3
Incorrect contact information and patient reluctance were significant barriers to successful follow-up, particularly for SCI patients.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the ability of the National Spinal Cord Injury Registry of Iran (NSCIR-IR) to assess the quality of care (QoC) for spine trauma patients through post-discharge follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed acceptable data completeness for pre- and in-hospital care but faced challenges in the follow-up phase due to the pandemic, contact data quality, and patient cooperation. The study recommends improving contact information accuracy, exploring remote assessment strategies, and addressing patient barriers to enhance follow-up success and data quality.

Practical Implications

Improve Data Accuracy

Implement measures to ensure the accuracy of contact information during data gathering by NSCIR-IR registrars and quality reviewers.

Remote Assessment Strategies

Explore and implement remote assessment strategies, such as telemedicine, to improve accessibility for SCI patients and those facing transportation or mobility challenges.

Address Patient Barriers

Provide transportation facilities or financial support to motivate SCI patients to participate in follow-ups, addressing issues such as commuting costs and reluctance due to recovery frustrations.

Study Limitations

1
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on face-to-face follow-ups.
2
Potential non-responder bias affecting the generalization of findings.
3
Challenges in accurately assessing pain and spasticity via telephone follow-ups.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury