Web Based Injury Surveillance System (WBISS) for Road Traffic Injuries

Abstract

Road traffic injuries are a major, but neglected public health problem in Sri Lanka. As their economic costs are high and emergency trauma care is lacking in the country, the prevention of the road traffic injuries is extremely important. To prevent road traffic injuries, accurate information are mandatory on modes, patterns and trends of crashes and injuries. However, existing surveillance systems in Sri Lanka carry enormous deficiencies in receiving, recording and disseminating information of road traffic crashes and injuries. Hence, we designed a Web based injury surveillance system (WBISS) to overcome these deficiencies and to improve the inter-sector coordination for road traffic injury prevention in Sri Lanka. We adopted to WHO injury surveillance guidelines and used standard injury scales in designing this system. The system utilizes available resources without causing extra burden to government of Sri Lanka. This WBISS collects data on road traffic injuries from hospitals and relevant police stations. Data will be entered online to a Web based data base. WBISS will provide accurate, complete, timely data on patterns and determinants of road traffic injuries and will help to implement timely interventions. This system will also aid the frequent updating of the knowledge on road traffic injuries in the country. WBISS can be used worldwide. Other developing countries can also share the same system.