Health Professionals' Perspectives on the Efficacy of Using Comprehensive Care to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Traumatic Injury

Abstract

Background Barriers related to comprehensive posttrauma care and health outcome monitoring exist. The insights and perspectives of health professionals on this issue may help integrate care experiences to provide continuous care to patients with traumatic injury. Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of health professionals with regard to comprehensive care to improve the outcomes of patients with traumatic injury. Methods Data were collected at two teaching hospitals in Taiwan. In total, 28 health professionals across various disciplines were interviewed in five focus groups. Results Six themes were delineated, including "wound care is a primary concern for patients,""ineffective health education during the hospital stay,""patients and families worry about postinjury conditions,""current continuity of care is not effective,""lack of standards for discharge planning,"and "incorporation of interdisciplinary care to improve patient outcomes."Conclusions The experiences of health professionals are useful to the establishment of a foundation for trauma case management and interdisciplinary care for hospitals.