Trauma Teams in Aotearoa New Zealand-a national survey.

Abstract

Improved survival of trauma patients has been shown when a multidisciplinary trauma team is available. The aim of this study is to investigate the composition of trauma teams, trauma call criteria and the role of anaesthetists in trauma care across New Zealand. A survey was distributed using the modified Dillman's technique. Data was collected and aggregated using an online platform. The survey consisted of two streams of questions depending on trauma team availability. Trauma nurse specialists were the first contact point and if not available, direct contact with the hospital was made for completion of the survey. Seventy-five percent of hospitals had a trauma team and trauma call system and correlated to size of the hospital. The number of trauma team members ranged from six to 17, with a median of 10. Trauma call activation criteria encompassed physiological criteria, injury pattern and injury mechanism criteria. Physiological criterial of GCS, heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate were universally used. Sixty-two percent of trauma teams had involvement of anaesthetists. Trauma teams in New Zealand are common in regional and tertiary trauma hospitals. There is a wide variation in member numbers and criteria to trigger a trauma call. Anaesthetist involvement was in over half of trauma teams with regional variation noted. There is potential for trauma team composition and activation criteria to be standardised in New Zealand.