Prospective cohorts and risk adjusted outcomes for trauma.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this review is to highlight the specifics and applicability of two important methods of clinical research and quality assurance the prospective cohort study and risk adjusted outcomes. Prospective cohort studies are the gold standard of epidemiological research and are highly applicable to the specific characteristics of the trauma population (i.e. they have a well defined onset and relatively short timeframe to the outcome, with most outcomes being evident during the hospital stay). Risk adjusted outcomes are designed to control for patient factors and injury characteristics allowing researchers to focus on the system-related variables that can improve the quality of care of the injured patient. This paper focuses on the trauma care-related specifics of these methods and is intended to guide junior researchers of the discipline.