PROFILE OF PATIENTS ATTENDED IN A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN TRAUMA HOSPITAL IN CURITIBA: IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Abstract

The aim was to understand the epidemiology of trauma in the local reality, identifying the profile of the patients, trauma mechanisms, time of hospitalization and outcome. The research was carried out in a hospital which is a center of excellence in trauma and based on the hospital notes of the patients attended during January – June 2009. The data of interest was recorded on an instrument structured and developed for the study, and analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics. A profile of young men injured in traffic accidents was substantiated; on average, the patients were kept in the emergency service area for 54 hours, and 57% were admitted, of whom 7% died. The data suggests that it is appropriate to invest in public policies for the prevention and reduction of traffic accidents, and in improvements in the organization of health services such that trauma victims are guaranteed, when indicated, hospitalization on a ward rather than spending long periods in an emergency unit hoping for a place to become available.

Keywords

• Emergency medical services
• Trauma
• Humanization of care
• Nursing