Challenges and opportunities in trauma research: study designs and patient-reported outcome measures

Abstract

In the field of orthopedic trauma surgery, great progress has been made over the last decades which has improved patient care and enhanced the likelihood of surviving serious injury. As a result, focus has shifted from patient survival to improving quality of life and reducing the burden of nonfatal injury. However, research-based advances that improve these outcomes for patients with orthopedic injuries have been constrained. The aims of this thesis were to provideinsight into the value of different study designs which evaluate the effects of medical interventions for trauma patients in everyday clinical practice and to assess the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) as an integrated part of research practice for the assessment of quality of life after nonfatal trauma injury.</table