Audience response system technology improves accuracy and reliability of trauma outcome judgments.
BACKGROUND
Peer-review judgments are necessary for effective trauma performance improvement (PI), but may be influenced by peer pressure and the tendency to vote with the majority. Incorporation of Audience Response System (ARS) technology into trauma PI should result in improved outcome assessments.


METHODS
We compared 30 months of nonanonymous trauma care judgments with 30 months of anonymous judgments obtained with the use of a keypad-based ARS. Statistical methods included the chi2 test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test.


RESULTS
Use of the ARS resulted in a 28% reduction in deaths judged nonpreventable and a 24% reduction in trauma care judged to be appropriate (p < 0.0001). Unanimous outcome judgments were also significantly reduced (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Outcome judgments obtained anonymously were significantly more divergent and less positive than those obtained nonanonymously. Anonymously derived outcome judgments may provide a better opportunity to identify adverse outcomes and thereby potentially improve trauma PI and trauma care.
Jacobs
David G
DG
Department of Surgery, F.H. Sammy Ross Jr. Trauma Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina 28232-2861, USA. David.Jacobs@carolinashealthcare.org
Sarafin
Jennifer L
JL
Huynh
Toan
T
Miles
William S
WS
Sing
Ronald F
RF
Thomason
Michael H
MH
D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009657:North Carolina; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013685:Telecommunications; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy