Collection and local use of accident and emergency hospital data in England.
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.
Thomas
H F
HF
MRC Epidemiology Unit, Llandough Hospital, Penarth, South Glamorgan.
Morgan
P S
PS
Hirst
D
D
D000056:Accident Prevention; D003625:Data Collection; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires