A multi-institutional research team is set to build what could be Australia's first national system for injury surveillance, leveraging emergency department data to gain a comprehensive view of existing and emerging injury patterns nationwide. 

The project has recently obtained a A$2.98 million ($2 million) grant from the Australian government's Medical Research Future Fund.

The research team comprises academic researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Green Light Institute for Emergency Care. 

They are also supported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine and the Monash University Accident Research Centre. 

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

Based on a media release, the project will employ AI techniques to collate emergency department data across states and territories in the country to build the injury surveillance system.

The system will be able to identify risks not currently captured in existing data, including domestic violence, child maltreatment, alcohol or drug misuse, intentional self-harm and workplace risk. It will also better identify priority populations, including low-income individuals and people living in rural and remote areas. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Injuries made up 1.9 million emergency department presentations in Australia last year, based on the latest data by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 

Different states have varying state-wide injury surveillance systems with some not having any collection of injury data at all, UNSW noted. 

A national data system that provides more reliable and timely access to injury data is expected to critically inform prevention activities, as well as guide policies, standards, and legislations aiming to reduce injuries in communities. 

"For example, our system will pick up certain drug-related harms in some areas of the country, possibly even linked to a new street drug. We will be able to use the data to inform public health initiatives and take prompt and targeted action to reduce the burden of death and disability from injury," Dr Lisa Sharwood, an epidemiologist and the project lead from UNSW Sydney, explained. 

"When we have a better idea of what causes injuries, it is easier to try to prevent them," she added.

THE LARGER TREND

Based on AIHW data, injuries account for 8% of the total disease burden in the country last year, causing over 500,000 hospitalisations. In 2021, nearly 15,000 lives succumbed to injuries. Moreover, it is said to make up 7.3% of the total health spending in 2021. 

Most injuries that lead to both hospitalisations and deaths are caused by falls, the AIHW data shows. There are already initiatives to prevent falls, especially in residential aged care settings where it happens often, including the use of data analytics and autonomous sensors by a consortium of aged care sector organisations.

Meanwhile, Victoria's Transport Accident Commission is now collecting patient-reported outcomes and experiences to inform the clinical decisions of their physiotherapists, particularly in gaining an understanding of how an injury affects their patients and delivering tailored treatments.