title: Do male and female trauma patients receive the same prehospital care?: an observational follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trauma-related mortality can be lowered by efficient prehospital care. Less is known about whether gender influences the prehospital trauma care provided. The aim of this study was to explore gender-related differences in prehospital trauma care of severely injured trauma patients, with a special focus on triage, transportation, and interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective observational study based on local trauma registries and hospital and ambulance records in Stockholm County, Sweden. A total of 383 trauma patients (279 males and 104 females) > 15 years of age with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of > 15 transported to emergency care hospitals in the Stockholm area were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male patients had a 2.75 higher odds ratio (95 % CI, 1.2-6.2) for receiving the highest prehospital priority compared to females on controlling for injury mechanism and vital signs on scene. No significant difference between genders was detected regarding other aspects of the prehospital care provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that prehospital prioritization among severely injured late adolescent and adult trauma patients differs between genders. Knowledge of a more diffuse presentation of symptoms in female trauma patients despite severe injury may help to adapt and improve prehospital trauma care for this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden. rebecka.rubenson.wahlin@ki.se.|Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Södersjukhuset, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden. rebecka.rubenson.wahlin@ki.se.
authors.forename: Rebecka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rubenson Wahlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ponzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lövbrand
authors.affiliation: Division of Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skrivfars
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden.|Field of Prehospital Critical Care, Network for Medical Sciences, University of Stavanger, Kjell Arholmsgate 41, NO-4036, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Hans Morten
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lossius
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE-118 83, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Emergency Medicine and Services, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castrén
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult