ThP7.9 - Enhancing Access to Psychological Support for Major Trauma Patients: A Comprehensive Approach

Abstract

Abstract Introduction One in three major trauma (MT) patients experience acute stress disorder (ASD) following physical trauma. Patients experiencing ASD are at increased risk of developing longer-term mental health conditions, including PTSD, which can impede physical recovery. Early identification of these patients and timely psychological interventions, reduce the impact of long-term mental health conditions. Access to specialist psychology services is therefore imperative for holistic patient recovery. Methods Referral rates to a Major Trauma Psychology service were collected for MT patients (Injury Severity Score ≥9) admitted October to December 2022. Following this, a prompt for healthcare professionals to offer the psychology service was added to the Tertiary Trauma Survey (TTS) proforma in March 2023. The TTS is a top-to-toe examination conducted within 24 hours of admission to ensure all injuries have been identified. Educational sessions were delivered to MT healthcare professionals to support their discussions with patients and a patient information leaflet was designed. Data collection was then repeated April to June 2023. Results Prior to these interventions, 14.18% of MT patients were referred to the psychology service with a median time from admission to referral of 4 days. Following the interventions, 31% of patients were referred to the service, with a median time from admission to referral of 1 day. Conclusion Raising awareness of the importance of providing early and focused psychological support improved the rate and speed of referral to the psychology service. Earlier intervention in patients with psychological distress following trauma can reduce long-term mental health conditions and promote active recovery.