Trauma (Including Fractures)
Conditions
Keywords
trauma, acute stress, emergency department, hospitalization, emergency care
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to better understand what causes patients the most concern immediately after an injury. We would like to find out how stressed patients are and whether the main causes of stress are pain, fear regarding the severity of the injury, the possibility of surgery, uncertainty about treatment, concerns about family, children, work, finances, or something else.
Detailed description
Traumatic injuries are a common reason for seeking care in an Emergency Department. Beyond the physical effects of an injury, patients may also experience considerable emotional stress. They may worry about pain, how serious the injury is, whether surgery will be necessary, how long recovery will take, possible long-term consequences, and how the injury may affect their family, children, work, or financial situation. In patients who are medically stable, especially those with less immediately life-threatening injuries, this emotional burden is not always assessed in a structured way. However, these patients are often able to complete a short questionnaire about their concerns and stress. Understanding their experiences may help healthcare professionals improve communication, provide clearer information, and offer better support during emergency care. The aim of this study is to measure acute stress in trauma patients and identify the concerns that matter most to them shortly after injury. For patients who are admitted to the hospital, the study will also examine how stress levels and the main sources of concern change during the first 24 hours after admission.
Interventions
OTHERQuestionnaire and Physical Exam
Participants complete a brief questionnaire assessing acute stress, pain, treatment-related concerns, family and work-related concerns, and perceived information and communication. The T0 questionnaire is administered after initial emergency assessment. Hospitalized participants complete an additional T1 questionnaire approximately 24 hours after admission.
Sponsors
Gabriela Katharina Pomper
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Age 18 years or older. 2. Presentation to the Emergency Department because of an acute traumatic injury. 3. Triage category 3, 4, or 5. 4. Clinical stability after the initial assessment. 5. Ability to understand the study information and the questionnaire. 6. Ability to provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
1. Triage category 1 or 2 (an acutely life-threatening condition or an immediate need for emergency medical or surgical intervention; hemodynamic or respiratory instability). 2. Severe impairment of consciousness, disorientation, or inability to cooperate. 3. Inability to provide informed consent; cognitive impairment or a language barrier preventing comprehension of the questions. 4. Severe alcohol or drug intoxication preventing valid completion of the questionnaire. 5. A situation in which completion of the questionnaire is inappropriate for medical, ethical, or organizational reasons.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Acute Stress Level | At day 1, after initial assessment | Overall level of acute stress measured using a numerical rating scale from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no stress and 10 indicates the highest possible level of stress. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Sources of Stress at T0 | At day 1, after initial Emergency Department assessment. | Severity of specific stressors, including pain, concerns about injury severity, possible surgery, anesthesia, treatment uncertainty, permanent consequences, family, children, work, and financial concerns, each rated on a 0-10 numerical scale. |
| Difference in Overall Stress Between Triage Categories 3, 4, and 5 | At day 1. | Description: Comparison of overall acute stress scores among trauma patients classified as triage category 3, 4, or 5. |
| Association Between Pain Intensity and Overall Stress | At day 1. | Description: Association between self-reported pain intensity and overall acute stress level, both measured on numerical rating scales from 0 to 10. |
| Overall Stress Score According to Injury Type and Anatomical Location | At day 1. | Overall stress will be assessed using a patient-reported 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no stress and 10 indicates the highest imaginable level of stress. Overall stress scores will be compared according to the type of traumatic injury and the anatomical location of the injury. Injury type and anatomical location will be determined from the clinical assessment and medical documentation at presentation to the Emergency Department and categorized for analysis. Higher scores indicate a higher level of overall stress. |
| Change in Overall Stress Score Assessed by the Study-Specific Acute Trauma Stress Questionnaire From T0 to T1 | From day 1 to approximately 24 hours after admission. | Change in overall stress level between the initial Emergency Department assessment and approximately 24 hours after hospital admission among hospitalized participants. |
| Change in Dominant Sources of Stress Assessed by the Study-Specific Acute Trauma Stress Questionnaire From T0 to T1 | From day 1 to approximately 24 hours after admission. | Change in the most important patient-reported sources of stress between the initial assessment and approximately 24 hours after admission. |
| Correlation Between Overall Stress Score and Patient-Reported Information and Understanding Score | At day 1 and, for hospitalized participants, approximately 24 hours after admission. | Correlation between the patient's overall stress level and the patient's perceived level of information and understanding regarding the current treatment plan. Overall stress will be assessed using a patient-reported Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no stress and 10 indicates the highest imaginable level of stress. The perceived level of information and understanding of the treatment plan will be assessed using a patient-reported Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates feeling not informed/not understanding the treatment plan at all and 10 indicates feeling fully informed and having |
Countries
Croatia
Contacts
CONTACTGabriela K Pomper, MD, PHD
Outcome results
None listed