A study comparing the effects of using an automated electronic system and a paper-based system of recording patients observations on the length of stay in a hospital for trauma patients

Oxford Track-&-Trigger Electronic System for Trauma (OTEST) - a randomised stepped wedge trial comparing the effects of an integrated electronic 'Track-and-Trigger' system and a paper-based 'Track-and-Trigger' system on the length of trauma patients stay from admission date to 'fit for discharge'

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN91040762

Enrollment

2000

Registered

2012-05-16

Start date

2011-08-31

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2018-12-04

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Patients admitted to a trauma ward Not Applicable

Interventions

Control 'paper system' arm: A paper evidence-based 'track-and-trigger' system on which physiological observations of blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, temperature and conscious

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: All patients over 16 years of age admitted to two trauma wards over an eight month period

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients whose treatment plan is palliative at admission to the trauma ward 2. Patients with a learning disability 3. Patients unable to speak English and without a suitable translator 4. Patients in the custody of HM Prison Service

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Time from ward admission to 'fit to discharge'. 'Fit to discharge' is defined as either discharged from the ward to home or alternative care or accepted by social services as a 'delayed discharge'. This primary outcome measure has been chosen instead of using length of stay as a significant number of patients have an extended length of stay whilst waiting for suitable support mechanisms to be put in place outside hospital.	—

Measure

Time frame

Time from ward admission to 'fit to discharge'. 'Fit to discharge' is defined as either discharged from the ward to home or alternative care or accepted by social services as a 'delayed discharge'. This primary outcome measure has been chosen instead of using length of stay as a significant number of patients have an extended length of stay whilst waiting for suitable support mechanisms to be put in place outside hospital.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Patient outcome measures: 1. Hospital length of stay 2. In hospital mortality 3. 30 day mortality following ward admission 4. Unplanned admissions to intensive care 5. Number of cardiac arrest calls Compliance measures: 1. Appropriate escalation in observation frequency 2. Appropriate escalation in clinical intervention	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 23, 2026