The objectives of this study are to describe the main characteristics of motor-vehicle injury patients admitted to seven emergency departments (EDs) in Barcelona (Spain) from January 1994 to June 1996, and to assess factors related to injury severity and hospital admission. A study method used was cross-sectional design. The data analyzed were obtained from the information routinely transmitted from the EDs. Univariate and bivariate descriptive statistical analyses were performed, as well as multiple logistic regressions. It appeared that 60.7% of patients were males, and that 73.7% were younger than 40 years of age. The study underscores that in Barcelona, pedestrians and two-wheel vehicle occupants account for two-thirds of traffic injury cases, and are also the user's subgroups with a higher risk of a more severe injury and a higher chance of admission. The results also show that decision criteria on the patient need for hospitalization may vary substantially among hospitals in the case of trauma patients.
Samenvatting