@article{ref1,
title="Collection and local use of accident and emergency hospital data in England",
journal="Journal of accident and emergency medicine",
year="1996",
author="Thomas, H. F. and Morgan, P. S. and Hirst, D.",
volume="13",
number="1",
pages="23-25",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the collection and local use of accident and emergency data. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 248 English accident and emergency (A&E) departments. Responses were obtained from 217 (88%). RESULTS: Only 87 (40%) of departments were fully computerised, with 109 (50%) using manual systems, and 21 (10%) a mixture of both. Significantly more computerised departments reported that they undertook studies (epidemiological, accident prevention, and resource management) than non-computerised departments. Only limited information on the types of injury studied was provided. The most common topics were childhood accidents, road traffic accidents, and poisonings. Staff in 45 departments (21%) reported membership of safety organisations. Around 90% of departments reported that they notified general practitioners and health visitors of their patients' attendance, usually within 3 d of the event. CONCLUSIONS: Computerisation appears to help the collection of A&E data for public health research. There is scope to increase the involvement of public health and other workers in epidemiological studies using A&E data. A&E departments should themselves become more involved with local safety organisations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1351-0622",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}