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Table 3 Clinical practice and proxy clinical practice outcomes and data collection methods

From: Implementing evidence-based recommended practices for the management of patients with mild traumatic brain injuries in Australian emergency care departments: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

 

Method

Outcome assessment period/timing

Data source

Level data collected

Analysis level

Primary outcome

     

Appropriate post-traumatic amnesia screening (PTA)

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Secondary outcomes

Clinical practice outcomes

     

PTA screening tool

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Memory - clinical assessment

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Computed tomography scan - clinical criteria (CT)1

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Provision of patient information (INFO)

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Safe discharge based on PTA and INFO

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Safe discharge based on PTA, CT, and INFO

Chart audit (retrospective)

2 month period post-intervention

Hospital record

Patient

Patient

Proxy measures of clinical practice

     

Self-report of adherence to recommended practice

     

• PTA

Staff questionnaire (1-item)

Baseline/Endpoint

Doctors

Staff member

Staff member

 

Nurses

• CT

Staff questionnaire (1-item)

Baseline/Endpoint

Doctors

Staff member

Staff member

• INFO

Staff questionnaire (1-item)

Baseline/Endpoint

Doctors

Staff member

Staff member

 

Nurses

Behavioural simulation2 to adhere to recommended practice

     

• PTA

Staff questionnaire (clinical vignettes)

Endpoint

Doctors

Staff member

Staff member

Nurses

• CT

Staff questionnaire (clinical vignettes)

Endpoint

Doctors

Staff member

Staff member

Nurses

• INFO

Staff questionnaire (clinical vignettes)

Endpoint

Doctors

Staff member

Staff member

   

Nurses

  
  1. 1Criteria that justify a scan are: age 65 years or older; GCS <15; amnesia; suspected skull fracture; vomiting and coagulopathy (see Additional file 1). 2Clinical decision in response to individual simulated patients, for example in patient scenarios.