Author/Authors :
Levine , Adam C. Department of Emergency Medicine - The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University - Providence - RI, USA , Kearney, Alexis S. Department of Emergency Medicine - The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University - Providence - RI, USA , George, Naomi Department of Emergency Medicine - The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University - Providence - RI, USA , Karim, Naz Department of Emergency Medicine - The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University - Providence - RI, USA , Aluisio , Adam R. Department of Emergency Medicine - The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University - Providence - RI, USA , Kabeja , Lise M. Department of Anesthesia - Critical Care - and Emergency Medicine - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - University of Rwanda - Kigali, Rwanda , Mutabazi, Zeta School of Medicine - University of Rwanda - Kigali, Rwanda , Uwitonze, Jean Eric Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU) - Rwanda Ministry of Health - Kigali, Rwanda , Nyinawankusi , Jeanne D’Arc Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente (SAMU) - Rwanda Ministry of Health - Kigali, Rwanda , Byiringiro, Jean Claude Department of Anesthesia - Critical Care - and Emergency Medicine - College of Medicine and Health Sciences - University of Rwanda - Kigali, Rwanda
Abstract :
Introduction: Injuries account for 10% of the global burden of disease, resulting in approximately 5.8 mil-
lion deaths annually. Trauma registries are an important tool in the development of a trauma system;
however, limited resources in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) make the development of
high-quality trauma registries challenging. We describe the development of a LMIC trauma registry based
on a robust retrospective chart review, which included data derived from prehospital, emergency centre
and inpatient records.
Methods: This paper outlines our methods for identifying and locating patients and their medical records
using pragmatic and locally appropriate record linkage techniques. A prehospital database was queried to
identify patients transported to University Teaching Hospital – Kigali, Rwanda from December 2012
through February 2015. Demographic information was recorded and used to create a five-factor identi-
fication index, which was then used to search OpenClinic GA, an online open source hospital information
system. The medical record number and archive number obtained from OpenClinic GA were then used to
locate the physical medical record for data extraction.
Results: A total of 1668 trauma patients were transported during the study period. 66.7% were success-
fully linked to their medical record numbers and archive codes. 94% of these patients were successfully
linked to their medical record numbers and archive codes were linked by four or five of the five pre-set
identifiers. 945 charts were successfully located and extracted for inclusion in the trauma registry. Record
linkage and chart extraction took approximately 1256 h.
Conclusion: The process of record linkage and chart extraction was a resource-intensive process; how-
ever, our unique methodology resulted in a high linkage rate. This study suggests that it is feasible to cre-
ate a retrospective trauma registry in LMICs using pragmatic and locally appropriate record linkage
techniques.
Keywords :
Development , trauma and emergency database , Kigali , Rwanda
